/ 

LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS, 


FROM  1814  TO   1864. 

V 

Br   REV-   WILLIAM   CEOWELL,  D.  D.. 

FREEPOBT,    ILL. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://archive.org/details/lamerOOcrow 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 


A  complete  historic  review  of  the  literature  produced  by 
Baptists  in  the  English  language  would  involve  a  history  of 
the  language  itself.  Its  characteristic  ideas,  though  not  in 
the  exact  form  or  ciiltus  of  the  present  day,  have  largely 
intermingled  with  the  recorded  English  thinking  from  the 
beginning.  Though  it  is  not  the  object  of  this  paper  to  ex- 
hibit the  process  of  this  statement  in  detail,  yet  the  fact  is 
necessary  to  a  proper  estimate  of  American  Baptist  Litera- 
ture in  the  last  half-century  ;  for,  as  literature  is  the  out- 
growth of  ideas,  its  form,  its  direction,  its  chief  material  in 
one  age,  are  largely  influenced  by  preceding  ages.  Whether 
it  be  the  record  of  struggles,  of  conflicts,  of  persecutions,  of 
sufferings,  or  of  peaceful  progress,  of  calm  advocacy  or  of 
turbulent  controversy,  literature  becomes  the  chief  material 
of  the  history  of  religious  opinions.  The  literature  of  Bap- 
tists in  the  English  language  is  a  growth  of  centuries,  — 
each  successive  age  imparting  to  it  a  fresh  modification,  — 
each  part  so  vitally  related  to  every  other  part,  that,  to  be 
rightly  estimated,  it  must  be  viewed  as  one  organic  whole. 

And  when  we  have  traced  this  literature  to  what  might 
seem  its  fountain-head,  in  the  various  dialects  out  of  which 
the  conglomerate  English  language  was  formed,  as  the  diverse 
races  were  gradually  fused  into  one  people,  we  soon  find  that 
its  characteristic  ideas  had  sprung  up  long  before,  from  a  far- 
distant  fountain.  We  find  that  their  origin  must  be  sought 
in  another  land,  in  a  far-distant  age.  Their  rise  in  the  Brit- 
ish Isles  is  soon  found  to  be  no  original  fountain,  no  native 
spring. 

50 


394<  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

When  the  Holy  City  was  about  to  be  besieged  by  a  hostile 
army,  the  king  "  stopped  all  the  fountains  "  of  water,  so  that 
in  the  place  of  cool  springs,  bubbling  up  from  rocky  dells, 
the  invaders  found  dusty  roads,  arid  wastes,  or  the  stubble 
of  harvested  fields.  Not  that  royal  power  could  force  back 
the  upspringing  waters  :  they  flowed  on,  as  pure  as  ever, 
securely  enclosed  by  time-defying  masonry,  down  deep  in 
the  earth,  flowing  beneath  high  hills,  through  secret  con- 
duits, or  strong  archways,  or  winding  galleries  cut  through 
the  living  rock,  to  be  poured  out  where  the  besieged,  not 
the  besiegers,  might  rejoice  in  their  cooling  presence.  Ages 
rolled  away ;  the  places  of  the  primitive  fountains  faded  from 
the  memory  of  man ;  the  existence  of  these  deep  crypts  be- 
neath the  massive  city  walls,  the  lofty  towers,  or  temple  bat- 
tlements, was  all  unknown  ;   so  that  even 

"  Siloa's  brook,  that  flowed 
Fast  by  the  oracle  of  God," 

was  deemed  to  spring  up  at  the  very  spot  where  its  spar- 
kling waters  first  came  to  view,  so  far  distant  from  its  real 
source. 

So  it  was  when  the  waters  of  life  gushed  forth,  fresh  and 
pure,  from  the  teaching  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  His  holy 
Apostles.  For  a  time  they  flowed  on,  widening  and  deepen- 
ing as  they  went,  gladdening  thirsty  souls  in  their  open  prog- 
ress towards  the  great  sea  of  peoples  and  nations.  The 
saintly  purity,  the  simplicity,  the  heavenly-mindedness  of  the 
early  churches,  the  perfect  sincerity  of  their  religious  life, 
the  singleness  of  heart,  the  childlike  earnestness  of  their 
piety,  have  never  since  been  witnessed.  They  drank  the 
pure  waters  of  the  primitive  fountain. 

But  the  Holy  Jerusalem,  coming  down  from  God  out  of 
heaven,  was  soon  besieged:  this  primitive  fountain,  too,  be- 
came "  a  spring  shut  up,  a  fountain  sealed."  The  waters  of 
life  still  flowed  on,  unchecked  and  pure,  but  out  of  the  sight 
of  hostile  foes  and  false  friends  who  would  corrupt  them ; 
they  found  outlets  in  Asia,  in  Greece,  and  in  Italy  ;   they 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  $95 

gushed  forth  in  the  valleys  of  the  Pyrenees  and  the  Alps  ; 
they  sprung  up  in  the  mountains  of  Wales,  mingling  but 
slightly  with  the  turgid  waters  of  religious  political  history, 
in  those  centuries  of  darkness,  of  superstition,  of  corruption, 
and  of  persecution. 

This  early  corruption  of  Christianity,  by  which  its  sacred 
name  was  profaned  to  the  base  uses  of  persecution,  was 
foretold  by  the  New  Testament  writers,  —  by  Paul  and 
John  especially,  —  who  speak  of  the  process  as  even  then 
begun. 

First,  as  was  to  be  expected,  came  those  corruptions  of 
Christianity  consequent  on  the  intermingling  of  Jewish  ideas. 
In  its  earlier  and  grosser  corruptions,  Christianity  was  held 
to  be  an  offshoot  of  the  Abrahamic  and  Mosaic  institutions : 
Jesus  was  raised  to  the  Messiahship  for  his  legal  piety  ;  the 
Divine  favor  flowed  down  an  hereditary  channel ;  the  king- 
dom of  the  Messiah  was  a  continuation  of  the  kingdom 
of  Israel,  improved,  but  not  essentially  changed  ;  not  only 
was  the  child  included  in  the  covenant  with  the  parent,  but 
the  descendant  with  the  ancestor ;  the  way  of  salvation  by 
grace  through  faith  was  almost  as  little  known  to  the  people 
as  the  courses  of  those  hidden  fountains. 

Next,  as  Christianity  extended  itself  over  the  Roman  Em- 
pire, increasing  the  number  of  its  nominal  adherents  chiefly 
from  among  the  heathen,  that  crafty  power,  true  to  its  tra- 
ditional policy,  adopted  the  rising  religion,  instead  of  the  now 
effete  systems  of  philosophy  and  worship,  which  had  lost  their 
hold  on  the  popular  mind.  Primitive  Christianity  disap- 
peared from  the  surface  of  history,  which,  for  many  dreary 
centuries,  was  chiefly  occupied  with  the  intrigues  of  ecclesi- 
astics and  the  intolerance  of  bishops  and  emperors,  of  popes 
and  kings.  The  soul  of  Rome  remained  pagan  still,  when 
her  body,  clad  in  scarlet  robes,  sat  in  the  temple  of  God. 
History  is  occupied  with  the  decrees  of  councils,  the  ri- 
valries of  ambitious  prelates,  the  contentions  of  jarring 
parties,  and   the  fortunes  of  hostile  creeds,   with  now  and 


396  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

then  a  reference  to  the  sufferings  of  the  true  witnesses  of 
Jesus. 

But  the  pure  waters  of  life  were  neither  dried  up  nor  ut- 
terly driven  back  ;  they  flowed  on  unseen,  to  gladden  the 
Lord's  hidden  ones.  While  state  ecclesiasticisms  —  with 
their  ranks  and  orders  of  ministry ;  their  altars,  candles,  vest- 
ments, and  chrisms  ;  their  pictures,  crosses,  confessionals,  and 
absolutions ;  their  corrupt  teaching  of  salvation  by  works, 
sacramental  grace,  regeneration  by  water,  applied  to  uncon- 
scious babes  —  were  hunting  the  faithful  few,  scattering 
the  only  true  churches  that  remained,  punishing  with  fines, 
imprisonments,  scourgings,  those  who  kept  the  ordinances  as 
they  were  delivered,  who  abhorred  infant  baptism  with  all  its 
train  of  corruptions,  the  Lord  was  not  left  without  faithful 
witnesses  to  His  truth.  As  early  as  the  fifth  century,  one  of 
the  champions  of  infant  baptism  declared  that  eternal  damna- 
tion awaits  all  who  deny  its  utility,  —  although  it  was  not 
even  claimed  to  Jiave  the  sanction  of  the  New  Testament. 
The  Catharists,  a  few  centuries  later,  dared  not  say,  when 
questioned  by  the  bishops  in  the  South  of  France,  that 
infant  baptism  was  wrong;  they  said  they  would  only  ap- 
peal to  the  Gospels  and  the  Epistles.  Nothing  that  power, 
wielded  by  bigotry,  jealousy,  and  intense  hatred  of  those 
principles  which  Baptists  now  advocate  boldly,  could  do,  was 
left  undone  to  exterminate  those  who  held  God's  truth  in  its 
purity. 

The  Reformation  in  Europe,  resulting  in  the  separation  of 
some  of  the  German  States  from  Rome,  followed  by  the 
quarrel  of  the  British  king  with  the  Pope,  prepared  the  way 
for  partial  religious  toleration.  A  powerful  party  arose  in 
Europe,  —  combining  much  learning,  talent,  and  political  in- 
fluence, —  who  took  the  name  of  Protestants.  The  right  to 
protest  against  a  dominant  but  corrupted  form  of  religion 
being  established,  the  long-hunted  sheep  of  Christ  began  to 
creep  forth  from  their  hiding-places.  Their  sufferings  for  the 
truth's  sake  now  came  to  remembrance,  when  states  and  na- 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  397 

tions  threw  off  the  yoke  of  "the  Triple  Tyrant;"  and  the  soul- 
stirring  sonnet  of  Milton  expressed  the  feeling  of  thousands:  — 

"  Avenge,  O  Lord,  thy  slaughtered  saints,  whose  bones 
Lie  scattered  on  the  Alpine  mountains  cold  ; 
Even  them  who  kept  thy  truth  so  pure  of  old, 
When  all  our  fathers  worshipped  stocks  and  stones." 

The  distinct  and  peculiar  character  of  that  people  who, 
"  in  their  ancient  fold,"  had  kept  God's  truth,  hecame  more 
and  more  obvious.  It  soon  became  evident  that  the  differ- 
ences between  them  and  other  Protestants  even,  were  not  only 
irreconcilable,  but  radical  and  vital,  —  beginning  with  the 
subjects  and  the  true  outward  form  of  baptism,  and  extending 
to  the  structure,  the  design,  the  powers,  and  duties  of  the 
Church,  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  presence  in 
the  Church,  and  to  the  relation  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  to 
the  kingdoms  of  the  world. 

The  name  Baptist,  in  English  literature,  was  applied  to 
those  who  held  to  the  primitive  faith  and  order,  rejecting  all 
human  additions.  The  differences  between  the  Baptist  theory 
and  the  Romish  and  Protestant  theory  became  more  plain  as 
the  freedom  of  discussion  allowed  them  to  be  pointed  out. 
The  Baptist  theory  admits  voluntary,  intelligent,  account- 
able persons  only  to  the  Church  ;  the  Romish  and  Protes- 
tant theory  receives  infants  also  :  the  Baptist  theory  re- 
ceives all  its  accessions  as  born  of  the  Spirit;  the  Romish 
and  Protestant  theory  those  who  are  born  of  the  flesh  ;  by 
the  Baptist  theory,  all  who  are  in  the  Church  are  entitled  to 
the  communion  of  the  Lord's  table  ;  by  the  Romish  and 
Protestant  theory,  many  who  are  claimed  as  members  of  the 
Church  are  debarred  from  the  Lord's  table :  by  the  Baptist 
theory,  the  government  of  the  Church  is  in  the  hands  of  all 
the  brethren  ;  by  the  Romish  and  Protestant  theory,  it  is 
in  the  hands  of  the  priesthood.  The  mission  of  Baptists 
was  seen  to  be  to  restore  the  primitive  form,  membership, 
government,  ordinances,  and  spirit  of  the  churches,  and  the 
kingdom  of  Christ. 


398  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

In  thus  tracing  the  literature  of  Baptists,  in  the  English 
language,  to  the  times  of  our  Lord,  to  his  Apostles,  and  to 
the  primitive  churches,  we  deny  that  it  was  an  offshoot  of 
Rome,  or  of  the  Reformation.  The  primitive  churches  have 
long  since  ceased  to  exist ;  no  one  of  them  has  come  down 
to  us  in  its  ancient  organized  form  ;  all  traces  of  them,  ex- 
cept a  few  brief  records  concerning  them,  which  God  has 
preserved  to  be  transmitted  to  us,  have  perished  ;  yet  the 
seeds  embalmed  in  the  Inspired  Record,  like  kernels  of  wheat 
in  the  cerements  of  the  dead  exhumed  from  the  catacombs  of 
ancient  Egypt,  retained  their  vitality  ;  they  found  a  soil  par- 
tially prepared  in  England;  they  sent  up  vigorous  shoots 
towards  the  light  and  warmth  of  freedom. 

This  growth  was  as  nearly  like  that  of  the  first  age  of 
Christianity  as  the  changed  condition  of  the  people  admitted. 
The  mixture  of  Jewish  ideas  and  pagan  customs  had 
changed  primitive  Christianity  into  "  another  gospel ;  "  yet 
the  seeds  which  sprang  up  so  vigorously  at  first  were  sure  to 
send  up  another  growth,  whenever  the  genial  sun  of  freedom 
should  kindle  the  light  of  knowledge.  A  nursery  soil  was 
partially  prepared  in  England ;  there  the  seeds  threw  forth 
vigorous  germs  ;  there  the  half-smothered  germs  struggled 
up  through  the  superincumbent  mass  of  ecclesiastical  rubbish 
towards  the  light  of  religious  freedom,  till,  in  the  fulness  of 
time,  the  young  trees,  somewhat  twisted  and  gnarled,  were 
ready  to  be  transplanted  to  the  virgin  soil  of  America,  where 
God  was  laying  the  foundations  of  the  mightiest  empire  on 
earth,  of  which,  not  religious  toleration  simply,  but  absolute 
religious  freedom,  the  entire  separation  of  religion  from  civil 
concerns,  should  be  the  chief  corner-stone. 

"  The  chief  glory  of  every  people,"  says  Johnson,  "  arises 
from  its  authors."  The  people  who  speak  the  English  lan- 
guage are  largely  indebted  to  Baptist  authors.  They  have 
done  good  service  in  every  department  of  literature.  Like  a 
tree,  our  literature  has  one  organism,  one  principle  of  growth, 
one  life,  though  made  up  of  roots,  trunk,  and  branches.     It 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS  399 

has,  in  fact,  a  threefold  division,  like  the  three  parts  of  a  tree. 
That  is  to  say,  this  literature  may  he  comprised  in  three 
general  divisions :  — 

1.  The  first  division  will  comprise  the  literature  produced 
hy  Baptists  in  England,  from  the  beginning  down  to  the  era 
of  Foreign  Missions  inaugurated  by  them.  The  rills  of 
Baptist  literature  that  sprung  up  in  America  in  the  early 
period  of  our  colonial  existence  were  so  intermingled  with 
the  stream  of  English  Baptist  literature  as  to  form  one  whole. 
That  portion  of  Baptist  literature  which  has  continued  to 
flow  on  in  England,  since  the  great  divergence  of  religious 
thought  and  of  civil  polity  consequent  on  the  independence 
and  freedom  of  this  country,  does  not  come  within  the  scope 
of  our  review. 

2.  The  second  division  will  comprise  the  literature  pro- 
duced by  Baptists  in  America,  from  its  settlement,  onward 
through  its  colonial  existence,  the  AVar  of  Independence,  and 
our  subsequent  career,  to  the  year  1814*,  the  era  of  our  For- 
eign Missions.  This  division  is  important,  rather  from  its 
qualities,  its  sturdy  nature,  and  its  subsequent  influence,  than 
for  its  amount. 

3.  The  third  division  will  comprise  the  literature  pro- 
duced by  American  Baptists  during  the  last  half-century,  — 
the  immediate  subject  of  this  review.  During  this  period, 
the  literature  of  American  Baptists  has  been  a  comparatively 
separate,  independent  stream  ;  while  that  of  English  Baptists 
has  continued  to  flow  on.  The  influence  of  the  literature  of 
the  Baptists  of  England  on  the  American  mind  has  steadily 
declined.  The  current  is  now  setting  in  the  opposite  direction. 
The  English  Baptists  are  now  taking  lessons  from  the  his- 
tory and  the  teachings  of  American  Baptists.  They  are  be- 
ginning to  see  in  our  doctrines,  our  polity,  and  especially  in  our 
treatment  of  the  religious  sects  around  us,  elements  of  unity, 
strength,  and  success,  which  are  wanting  in  theirs.  Baptist 
literature,  in  the  English  language,  must  reach  its  perfection 
in  the  United  States  of  America. 


400  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  literature  embraced  in  each  of  these 
divisions  has  its  own  peculiar  characteristics  and  uses,  as  dis- 
tinctly marked  as  those  of  infancy,  childhood,  and  youth ;  — 
that  the  infant  was  neither  a  bastard  of  Rome,  nor  a  mongrel 
of  the  Reformation,  but  the  true  child  of  the  woman  who 
fled  into  the  wilderness  from  the  face  of  the  beast.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  family  likeness  of  the  Baptists  of  these  mod- 
ern days  to  the  Christians  of  the  early  centuries  is  becoming 
more  and  more  manifest,  by  the  researches  of  the  most 
learned  historians.  It  will  be  seen  why  primitive  Chris- 
tianity, thus  reproduced,  has,  from  its  own  nature,  been  at 
ceaseless  variance  —  either  as  accuser  or  victim  —  with  state 
establishments  of  religion  with  their  corruptions,  with  all  ter- 
restrial churchisms,  whether  they  be  the  emanations  of  polit- 
ical ambition  or  the  instruments  of  sectarian  aggrandizement, 
in  England  and  America. 

1.  In  looking  at  the  first  division  of  the  modern  Baptist 
literature,  as  it  sprung  up  in  England,  we  are  surprised  that 
a  people  so  oppressed  and  wronged  should  have  produced  any 
literature  at  all,  unless  that  of  remonstrance  or  of  martyr- 
ology.  Banished  from  the  halls  of  learning,  shut  out  from 
the  universities,  deprived  of  temporal  support,  fined,  impris- 
oned, scourged,  their  persons  mutilated,  their  books  burned, 
their  names  cast  out  as  evil,  an  adulteress  calling  herself 
"  the  Church  "  armed  with  the  powers  of  law  for  their  de- 
struction, —  how  could  it  be  expected  that  the  early  Baptists 
of  England  would  enrich  the  literature  of  their  country  % 
Who  would  have  expected  that  England's  most  brilliant  es- 
sayist, historian,  and  critic  of  the  present  age,  in  his  review 
of  the  literature  of  the  seventeenth  century,  would  have  given 
such  a  verdict  as  this  \  —  "  We  are  not  afraid  to  say,  that, 
though  there  were  many  clever  men  in  England  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  there  were  only  two 
great  creative  minds.  One  of  these  minds  produced  the 
4  Paradise  Lost,'  the  other  the  '  Pilgrim's  Progress.'  ' 

One  of  these  "  two  great  creative  minds,"  the  Shakspeare 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  401 

of  the  spiritual  drama  for  mankind,  the  matchless  delineator 
of  the  unseen  workings  of  the  human  spirit  in  its  struggles 
after  God,  in  its  conflicts  with  the  unseen,  in  its  aspirings 
after  the  power  of  the  world  to  come,  was  immured  in  prison 
twelve  years,  for  declaring  the  primitive  Gospel  and  admin- 
istering the  primitive  ordinances  as  a  Baptist  preacher,  abun- 
dant in  labors  for  his  Master  !  The  other  composed  his  two 
most  elaborate,  painstaking  volumes  to  prove  from  the  Scrip- 
tures the  Divine  origin  and  authority  of  the  distinguishing 
principles  of  Baptists  ! 

The  crowning  glory  of  the  character  of  Milton,  for  which 
he  deserves  the  lasting  honor  and  love  of  mankind,  far  more 
than  for  his  wonderful  erudition  and  his  imperial  genius,  was 
his  intense  love  of  God's  revealed  truth  respecting  the  king- 
dom of  Christ.  This  was  the  spring  of  his  quenchless,  tire- 
less love  of  liberty,  culminating  iira  burning  hatred  of  all 
persecutions  for  conscience'  sake.  His  letters  to  Salmasius, 
his  letters  as  the  Secretary  of  Cromwell,  sent  in  the  name  of 
the  Protector  to  the  princes  of  Savoy,  of  France,  of  Sweden, 
of  Denmark,  and  of  Transylvania,  to  the  Senate  of  Geneva, 
to  the  Lords  of  Germany,  remonstrating  against  the  persecu- 
tions of  the  Albigenses,  —  the  promptings  of  his  own  brave, 
generous  soul,  —  show  how  fully  that  soul  was  imbued  with 
the  love  of  liberty.  His  appeal  for  the  freedom  of  the  press 
is  in  a  style  of  more  than  mortal  eloquence,  such  as  nothing 
but  the  deepest  conviction  could  have  inspired.  No  one  can 
estimate  the  indebtedness  of  English  freedom,  as  well  as  of 
English  literature,  to  the  pen  of  John  Milton. 

The  fame  of  Bunyan,  as  an  author,  rests  chiefly  on  his 
peerless  work,  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress."  Although  the 
author,  as  it  is  said,  of  as  many  works  as  he  was  years  of  age 
(60),  many  of  them  of  rare  excellence,  yet  that  marvel- 
lous book  causes  all  the  others  to  disappear  from  the  pop- 
ular view,  like  stars  in  the  presence  of  the  sun.  No  book, 
perhaps,  except  the  Bible,  has  been  translated  into  so  many 
languages  ;   none  depicts  so  vividly  the  struggles  of  the  hu- 

51 


402  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

man  heart  with  temptations  and  spiritual  foes,  in  all  climes 
and  ag-es. 

Before  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  we  find 
among  the  names  of  authors  who  enriched  English  literature, 
and  stood  forth  as  the  advocates  of  a  pure  gospel,  those  of 
Edward  Barker,  of  Samuel  Richardson,  of  Christopher 
Blackwood,  of  Hansard  Knollys,  of  Francis  Cornwell ;  and. 
in  the  latter  half,  of  Jeremiah  Ives,  of  John  Tombes,  — who 
published  fourteen  books, —  of  John  Norcott,  of  Henry  d'Ai:- 
vers, —  who  joined  with  Tombes  in  repelling  the  assaults  of 
Richard  Baxter,  —  of  Benjamin  and  Elias  Keach,  of  Edward 
Hutchinson,  of  Thomas  Grantham,  of  Nehemiah  Cox,  D.  D., 
of  Thomas  De  Launne,  —  whose  book  contained  a  preface 
by  Daniel  Defoe,  and  which  his  opponents  answered  by  put- 
ting him  in  the  pillory,  taking  off  his  ears,  fining  and  im- 
prisoning him,  and  finally  allowing  him  to  die  in  prison,  — 
of  Doctor  Russell,  and  of  Collins,  besides  many  others. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  this  was  an  age  of  great  re  • 
ligious  declension  in  England,  of  a  general  eclipse  of  faith. 
In  the  Established  Church,  during  this  period,  says  a  distin- 
guished writer  of  that  Church,  "  It  was  not  merely  that  Ra- 
tionalism then  obtruded  itself  as  a  heresy,  or  obtained  a  footing 
of  toleration  within  the  Church  ;  but  the  rationalizing  method 
possessed  itself  absolutely  of  the  whole  field  of  theology. 
With  some  trifling  exceptions,  the  whole  of  religious  litera- 
ture was  drawn  into  the  endeavor  to  '  prove  the  truth  of 
Christianity.'  ....  Dogmatic  theology  had  ceased  to  ex- 
ist ;  the  exhibition  of  religious  truth  for  practical  purposes 
was  confined  to  a  few  obscure  writers.  Every  one  who  had 
anything  to  say  on  sacred  subjects  drilled  it  into  an  array  of 
argument  against  a  supposed  objector.  Christianity  appeared 
made  for  nothing  else  but  to  be  '  proved  ;  '  what  use  to  make 
of  it  when  it  was  proved  was  not  much  thought  about."  * 

The  preaching  of  that  age  was,  to  use  Johnson's  compar- 
ison, rather  an   Old  Bailey  theology,  in  which  the  Apostles 

1  Soe  Mark  Pattison,  on  "  Tendencies  of  Religious  Thought  in  England,  from 
1688  to  1750." 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  403 

were  arraigned  once  a  week  fur  the  capital  crime  of  forgery, 
,than  the  Gospel  of  salvation.  The  Baptists  of  this  period 
were  called  to  the  work  of  testifying  and  suffering,  not  only 
for  the  primitive  order  and  ordinances  of  the  house  of  God, 
but  for  sound  doctrine,  for  the  truth  of  God  in  opposition  to 
the  speculations  of  men;  to  contend  with  dead  formalism,  to 
hold  up  the  cross  of  Christ  in  the  place  of  worthless  forms. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  we  find  in  the 
roll  of  worthies  who  enriched  the  literature  of  that  period  the 
names  of  such  writers  as  Samuel  Ewen ;  John  Brine,  men- 
tioned by  Bickersteth  as  "  a  powerful  writer  ;  "  Benjamin 
Beddome,  the  admired  preacher,  writer,  and  poet;  the  three 
Stennetts,  Joseph,  an  eminent  minister  of  London,  author  of 
many  works,  his  son,  Joseph  Stennett,  D.  D.,  a  distinguished 
scholar  and  author,  and  Samuel  Stennett,  D.  D.,  also  of  Lon- 
don ;  John  Evans,  LL.  D.,  one  of  whose  works  soon  sold 
to  the  number  of  a  hundred  thousand  copies ;  J.  H.  Evans, 
the  author  of  many  excellent  religious  works,  of  which  the 
London  "  Christian  Magazine  "  says,  "  Every  page  is  cal- 
culated to  awaken  prayer  and  holy  meditation ;  "  Dr.  Gale, 
the  learned  opponent  of  Dr.  Wall  ;  the  famous  Dr.  Gill, 
whom  Toplady  regards  as  having  "  trod  the  whole  circle 
of  human  learning,"  and  of  whom  he  says,  that,  "  while 
true  religion  and  sound  learning  have  a  single  friend  in  the 
British  empire,  the  works  and  name  of  Gill  will  be  known 
and  revered  ;  "  Joseph  Burroughs  ;  William  Zoat  ;  Caleb 
Evans,  D.  D.,  another  ardent  friend  of  religious  liberty,  as 
well  as  an  advocate  of  the  freedom  of  the  Colonies,  "  a 
spirited  controversialist  and  zealous  assertor,"  says  a  distin- 
guished American  writer,  "  of  those  liberal  and  noble  prin- 
ciples to  which  we  were  indebted  for  our  glorious  Revolu- 
tion;  "  Abraham  Booth,  the  excellent  minister  and  judicious 
writer ;  Joseph  Jenkins,  author  of  several  treatises  ;  and  the 
learned  Robert  Robinson. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  last  and  the  beginning  of  the  pres- 
ent century,  a  galaxy  of  names  of  accomplished  scholars  and 


404  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

brilliant  writers  appear  in  the  firmament  of  English  litera- 
ture as  the  champions  of  the  primitive  faith.  Among  them 
are  the  names  of  William  Jones,  author  of  a  work  on  the 
history  of  the  church ;  of  Thomas  Llewellyn,  the  friend  of 
Dr.  Gill,  and  correspondent  of  Dr.  Manning  ;  of  William 
Richards,  LL.  D.,  another  ardent  friend  of  religious  liberty, 
who  bequeathed  his  valuable  library  of  1300  volumes  to 
Brown  University ;  of  Robert  Hall,  of  John  Foster,  of 
Andrew  Fuller,  of  Christopher  Anderson,  of  Joseph  Ivi- 
mey,  and  others. 

Fuller  is  an  acknowledged  prince  among  theological  writers, 
a  keen  anatomist  of  error,  whose  controversial  and  practical 
writings  are  a  rare  treasure  of  spiritual  wisdom.  Of  Foster, 
Sir  James  Mackintosh  says,  "  I  have  read,  with  the  greatest 
admiration,  the  Essays  of  Mr.  Foster.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  profound  and  eloquent  writers  that  England  has  pro- 
duced." The  fame  of  Hall  is  coextensive  with  the  glory  of 
elegant  letters.  Dugald  Stewart  says  of  him,  "  Whoever 
wishes  to  see  the  English  'language  in  its  perfection,  must 
read  the  writings  of  that  great  divine,  Robert  Hall.  He  com- 
bines the  beauties  of  Johnson,  Addison,  and  Burke,  without 
their  imperfections."  Sir  James  Mackintosh,  from  whom  a 
biography  of  Hall  was  expected  when  he  himself  was  sud- 
denly made  the  subject  of  biography,  says,  "  His  eloquence 
is  of  the  highest  order,  the  natural  effusion  of  a  fertile  imag- 
ination and  of  an  ardent  mind  ;  while  his  style  is  easy,  va- 
rious, and  animated.  On  a  review  of  all  his  varied  excel- 
lencies, we  cannot  but  expect  with  confidence  that  the  name 
of  Robert  Hall  will  be  placed  by  posterity  among  the  best 
writers  of  the  age,  as  well  as  the  most  vigorous  defenders 
of  religious  truth,  and  the  brightest  examples  of  Christian 
charity." 

This  will  not  be  considered  extravagant,  coming  from 
such  a  man,  whose  estimate  is  amply  confirmed  by  scholars 
and  critics  like  Dr.  Gregory,  Sir  T.  N.  Talfourd,  Bicker- 
steth,  Sir  E.  Bulwer  Lytton,  Lord  Brougham,  and  the  most 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  405 

eminent  literary  reviewers  of  all  parties.  The  effect  of  his 
pulpit  eloquence  is  represented  as  wonderful  beyond  descrip- 
tion. No  preacher  drew  such  crowds  of  the  most  highly 
cultivated  hearers,  even  of  those  who  despised  the  people 
with  whom  he  was  connected.  Some  of  the  most  eminent 
writers  and  preachers  in  England  at  the  present  day  are 
found  among  the  Baptists. 

2.  Turning  to  the  second  division  of  Baptist  literature  in 
the  English  language,  that  produced  in  America  from  its 
settlement  to  the  year  1814,  we  meet,  at  the  threshold,  a 
fact  of  deep  significance.  The  key-note  of  Baptist  literature 
on  American  soil  is  the  bugle-blast  of  religious  freedom  ! 
The  battle  that  had  been  waged  in  Old  England  for  tolera- 
tion, is  taken  up  in  the  New  World  for  absolute  freedom 
of  religious  opinion,  action,  and  worship  ;  for  the  complete 
separation  of  spiritual  from  civil  concerns ;  for  the  inviola- 
bility of  conscience  ;  for  the  perfect  equality  of  all  men  be- 
fore God  !  The  first  Baptist  writer  takes  up  his  pen  for 
entire  freedom  of  opinion.  Toleration  is  not  the  creed  for 
him ;  he  denies  the  right  of  civil  magistracy  over  the  con- 
science in  religious  matters  at  all !  In  him  the  genius  of  the 
great  reformer  is  united  to  the  meekness,  the  patience,  the 
calm  courage  of  the  moral  hero.  The  grand  truth  first  as- 
serted by  the  Apostles  before  the  Jewish  rulers  was  now  to  be 
reasserted,  preparatory  to  its  incorporation  with  the  political 
life  of  a  great  nation  :  "  We  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than 
men."  God  was  preparing  the  way  for  primitive  Christian- 
ity to  become  a  power  in  the  land.  He  was  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  a  nation  whose  glory  was  to  eclipse  that  of  all 
preceding  nations.  In  this  nation,  religious  and  civil  liberty 
were  to  go  hand  in  hand  with  knowledge. 

The  far-reaching  influence  of  the  principle  then  incorpo- 
rated into  our  civil  state  can  even  now  be  but  partially  esti- 
mated. A  distinguished  European  scholar  and  political  writer, 
Gervinus,  in  his  "  Introduction  to  the  History  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Century,"  speaking  of  the  Rhode  Island  colony  founded 


406  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

by  Roger  Williams,  says :  "  These  institutions  have  not  only- 
maintained  themselves,  but  have  spread  over  the  whole  Union. 
They  have  superseded  the  aristocratic  commencements  of 
Carolina  and  of  New  York,  the  high-church  party  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  theocracy  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  monarchy 
throughout  America;  they  have  given  laws  to  one  quarter 
of  the  globe,  and,  dreaded  for  their  moral  influence,  they  stand 
in  the  background  of  every  democratic  struggle  in  Europe." 
Thus,  the  central  idea  of  the  alleged  heresies  for  which  Wil- 
liams was  banished  from  Massachusetts  was,  in  a  century 
and  a  half  afterwards,  incorporated  into  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,1  and  is  a  part  of  the  unchanging  law  of 
this  great  nation. 

The  remarkable  testimony  of  an  American  historian,  Ban- 
croft, to  the  merits  of  this  apostle  of  freedom,  has  never 
been  impeached :  "  Roger  Williams  was  the  first  person 
in  modern  Christendom  to  assert,  in  its  plenitude,  the  doc- 
trine of  the  liberty  of  conscience,  the  equality  of  opinions 
before  the  law ;  and  in  its  defence  he  was  the  harbinger  of 
Milton,  the  precursor  and  the  superior  of  Jeremy  Taylor. 
For  Taylor  limited  his  toleration  to  a  few  Christian  sects  : 
the  philanthropy  of  Williams  comprehends  the  earth." 

Whether  this  principle  ever  would  or  could  have  been 
triumphantly  maintained,  or  even  asserted,  by  any  of  the 
Pedo-Baptist  sects  is  a  question  for  calm  reflection  ;  the  facts 
have  passed  into  history,  that,  in  England  and  America,  Bap- 
tists alone  have  been  the  asserters,  the  unflinching  advocates 
and  martyrs  of  this  glorious  principle,  in  which  all  men  re- 
joice together.  It  is,  therefore,  no  arrogant  claim,  that  Bap- 
tist principles,  as  set  forth  in  their  literature  in  England  and 
America,  were  the  seeds  of  American  liberty.  They  were 
planted  by  Baptists,  watered  by  their  tears  and  blood,  weeded 
out  by  their  unremitting  vigilance,  toils,  and  sufferings,  till 
they  have  grown  to  be  a  great  tree,  so  that  all  the  birds  that 
will  may  lodge  in  the  branches  of  it. 

1  Sec  Article  II.  Amendments. 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  407 

John  Clarke,  the  companion  of  Williams  on  his  voyage  to 
England,  after  he  had  been  sentenced  by  the  Boston  magis- 
trates to  be  publicly  whipped,  wrote  a  treatise  against  the 
persecutions  in  New  England,  which  was  published  in  Lon- 
don. The  Wightmans  of  Connecticut,  Valentine,  Timothy, 
and  John  Gano  Wightman,  father,  son,  and  grandson, 
whose  aggregate  ministry  in  the  same  place  extended  through 
one  hundred  and  thirty-six  years,  made  some  contributions 
to  our  literature.  Valentine  Wightman,  being  challenged 
by  the  "  Standing  Order"  to  a  debate  on  baptism,  pub- 
lished, in  I7285  the  debate  in  a  volume,  —  probably  the 
first  book  in  defence  of  the  true  baptism  ever  issued  in  Amer- 
ica. Abel  Morgan  prepared  a  Concordance  of  the  Bible  in 
the  Welsh  language,  which  was  published  in  17^0,  after  his 
death.  His  nephew,  Abel  Morgan,  of  Middleton,  N.  J., 
published  a  reply  to  an  assault  on  believers'  baptism,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Finley,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  afterwards  President 
of  Princeton  College.  John  Callender,  pastor  of  a  church 
in  Newport,  R.  I.,  published  an  historical  discourse  in  17^8, 
and  left  valuable  manuscripts,  afterwards  used  by  Mr.  Backus. 
Benjamin  Griffith,  of  Pennsylvania,  prepared  a  work  on 
church  discipline,  another  on  the  resurrection,  and  a  reply 
to  a  pamphlet  on  infant  baptism,  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  earliest  American  Bap- 
tist work,  designed  to  set  forth  the  doctrines  of  the  Baptists 
in  didactic  form,  was  by  the  Rev.  John  Watts,  the  second 
pastor  of  the  Pennepek  Church,  the  oldest  Baptist  church 
in  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania.  Morgan  Edwards  says,  "  He 
[Watts]  composed  a  catechism,  or  little  system  of  divinity, 
which  was  published  in  1700."  No  copy  is  known  to  be  in 
existence. 

The  first  President  of  Harvard  University  rejected  infant 
baptism,  for  which  he  was  compelled,  though  a  very  learned 
and  godly  man,  to  resign  his  place  in  1654<.  His  successor 
held  immersion  to  be  the  true  baptism  ;  and  both  only  needed 


408  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

more  of  the  martyr  spirit,  or  less  violence  on  the  part  of  the 
ruling-  powers,  to  become  Baptists  in  profession  as  well  as  in 
belief. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Backus  commenced  his  active  career  of  preaching-,  travelling, 
and  literary  labor,  for  which  his  memory  is  so  highly  revered 
at  the  present  day.  His  publications,  which  number  from 
thirty  to  forty,  are  mostly  on  the  vital  doctrines  of  religion, 
or  in  opposition  to  the  soul-destroying  errors  of  the  day,  or 
historical,  or  in  defence  of  religious  liberty,  of  which  he  was 
a  tireless  and  fearless  advocate.  His  efficient  labors  and  bold 
championship  in  this  cause  deserve  our  lasting  gratitude.  His 
life  and  labors  are  well  commemorated  in  a  beautiful  volume 
compiled  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hovey. 

The  literary  remains  of  that  prince  of  pulpit  orators  in 
his  day,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman,  are  mostly  sermons  on  the 
vital  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  a 
native  of  Wales,  came  to  this  country  in  17^1,  and  became 
the  pastor  of  a  church  in  Philadelphia.  He  published  sev- 
eral sermons  and  theological  treatises,  and  "  Materials  to- 
wards a  History  of  the  Baptists  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey,"  in  two  volumes,  In  1792-  Samuel  Shepard,  a  be- 
loved physician  of  soul  and  body,- published  several  works, 
some  of  them  in  defence  of  Baptist  principles.  Rev.  William 
Rogers,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  a  fruitful  writer.  Rev. 
Richard  Furman,  D.  D.,  of  South  Carolina,  published  ser- 
mons and  addresses ;  and  the  eccentric  John  Leland  held  the 
pen  of  a  ready  writer. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Baldwin,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  commenced  his  literary 
labors,  through  which  he  exercised  a  strong,  lasting,  and 
highly  salutary  public  influence.  Rev.  Henry  Holcombe, 
D.  D.,  who  divided  his  ministerial  labors  between  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  and  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  wrote  exten- 
sively in  defence  of  the  great  truths  of  Christianity.  James 
Manning,  D.  D.,  at  an  earlier  period,  attained  eminence  as  a 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  409 

preacher,  a  teacher,  a  statesman,  and  author.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Stanford,  of  New  York  city,  Rev.  Dr.  Mercer,  of  Georgia, 
and  Rev.  A.  Broaddus,  of  Virginia,  were  fruitful  authors. 
The  highly  cultivated  and  brilliant  Rev.  Jonathan  Maxcy, 
D.  D.,  was  a  popular  author,  and  his  literary  remains,  col- 
lected by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elton  into  a  large  octavo  volume,  have 
a  permanent  value.  The  Rev.  William  Staughton,  D.  D., 
contributed  to  the  literature  of  the  cause  of  which  he  was  so 
distinguished  a  pulpit  advocate  some  valuable  publications. 

It  appears  that  all  publications  during  this  period  in  de- 
fence of  Baptist  principles,  of  a  polemic  cast,  are  replies  to 
attacks  by  Pedo-Baptists,  or  were  called  out  by  challenges 
to  debates,  or  are  reasons  assigned  for  becoming  Baptists,  by 
ministers  converted  from  other  denominations.  The  books 
by  Wightman  and  Morgan,  the  four  pamphlets  by  Backus, 
the  two  brief  works  by  Benjamin  Foster,  Dr.  Baldwin's  three 
pamphlets,  all  replies  to  attacks,  the  reasons  given  by  Daniel 
Merrill  and  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin  for  becoming  Baptists,  and 
many  others,  prove  this. 

The  first  periodical  publication  by  the  Baptists  in  the  United 
States  was  "  The  Massachusetts  Baptist  Missionary 
Magazine."  The  first  number  was  issued  in  September, 
1803,  by  a  committee  of  "The  Massachusetts  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Society,"  which  had  been  organized  in  the  early  part 
of  1802.  The  first  article  was  the  Constitution  of  the  So- 
ciety, followed  by  an  "Address  from  a  Committee  of  the 
Baptist  Churches  in  Boston."  But  two  numbers,  of  thirty- 
two  pages  each,  were  issued  the  first  year,  two  the  second 
year,  the  twelfth  and  last  number  of  the  volume  being  issued 
Jan.  1,  1808.  The  second  volume  of  twelve  numbers  was 
completed  in  December,  1810.  The  third  volume  com- 
menced in  March,  1811,  closing  December,  1813.  The 
fourth  commenced  March,  1814,  closing  December,  1816. 
A  new  series  was  commenced  in  1817,  issued  on  alternate 
months,  or  a  volume  in  two  years,  till  the  close  of  1824, 
from  which  period  it  has  been  issued  monthly,  to  the  present 

52 


410  LITERATURE  OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

time.  In  18£6,  after  the  removal  of  the  Foreign  Mission 
Board  to  Boston,  the  magazine  was  transferred  to  the  Board 
of  the  General  Convention.  It  continued  to  be  largely  oc- 
cupied with  biographies,  literary  essays,  reviews,  letters, 
poetry,  obituaries,  &c,  till  the  close  of  183J,  when  it  became 
"  a  strictly  missionary  publication,"  which  it  has  continued  to 
be  to  the  present  time. 

The  second  benevolent  organization  of  Baptists  not  only 
engaged  in  the  promotion  of  literature  incidentally,  like  the 
first,  but  was  formed  for  that  special  purpose.  "  The  Evan- 
gelical Tract  Society  "  was  organized  in  Boston,  Nov.  13, 
1811,  Dr.  Baldwin  President.  Its  objects  were  catholic  and 
liberal,  being  of  no  sectarian  cast,  and  are  thus  set  forth  in 
its  constitution :  "  To  procure  and  circulate  such  religious 
books  and  tracts  as  illustrate  and  defend  those  great  and  lead- 
ing truths  of  Christianity,  viz.,  the  depravity  of  human  na- 
ture, the  divinity  and  atonement  of  the  Saviour,  the  necessity 
of  the  Holy  Spirit's  influence  to  change  the  heart,  the  pleas- 
ures of  experimental  religion,  and  the  importance  of  a  holy 
life  and  conversation."  The  Society  was  originated  and 
managed  wholly  by  Baptists,  who  thus  early  mustered  to 
meet  the  coming  onset  of  Unitarianism,  the  distant  mutter- 
ings  of  which  were  not  yet  loud  enough  to  arouse  the  dor- 
mant Puritanism  of  New  England. 

"  The  Salem  Bible  Translation  and  Foreign  Mission  So- 
ciety "  was  founded  in  1812,  "to  aid  the  translation  of  the 
Scriptures  into  the  Eastern  languages,  at  the  present  time 
going  on  under  the  superintendence  of  Dr.  William  Carey." 
This  organization,  too,  was  both  directly  and  indirectly  in  aid 
of  literature. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1814,  delegates  from  many  Baptist 
churches  assembled  in  the  house  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  Philadelphia,  and  founded  "The  General  Missionary  Con- 
vention of  the  Baptist  Denomination  in  the  United  States  of 
America  for  Foreign  Missions."  This  event  gave  a  strong 
impulse,  not  only  to  the  missionary  cause,  but  to  the  literary 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  41  i 

spirit  of  Baptists.  One  of  the  first  fruits  of  this  intellectual 
quickening'  was  the  formation  of  "  The  Massachusetts  Baptist 
Education  Society,"  Sept.  22d  of  the  same  year,  "  to  afford 
the  means  of  education  to  young  men  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination, who  shall  furnish  evidence  to  the  churches  of  which 
they  are  members  of  their  personal  piety  and  call  to  the 
ministry." 

The  only  institution  of  liberal  learning  over  which  Baptists 
then  exercised  any  control  was  Brown  University,  chartered 
in  1*765.  This  was  about  the  middle  of  Dr.  Messer's  Pres- 
idency, which  extended  from  1802  to  18£6.  Its  spiritual 
and  intellectual  pulse  beat  feebly  at  this  period. 

Before  entering  on  the  third  division  of  our  literature,  we 
must  pause  and  consider  the  great  changes  that  had  taken 
place  during  this  second  period  of  its  development,  from  the 
settlement  of  the  American  Colonies  down  to  1814,  —  the 
transition  period  to  the  last  half-century.  This  literature  was 
the  pedestal  reared  by  our  American  Baptist  fathers  on  the 
strong  foundation  laid  in  England.  Its  earliest  note  was 
the  battle-cry  of  soul-freedom  ;  its  closing  strain,  the  anthem 
of  victory.  During  both  these  periods,  our  principles  and 
our  literature  were  asserting  the  right  to  existence,  rather 
than  putting  forth  their  claim  to  be  worthy  of  all  acceptation. 

Meanwhile  they  had  won  a  victory  which  astonished  the 
world,  alarmed  crowned  heads,  disquieted  pensioned  prel- 
ates, disgusted  popes  and  cardinals,  scandalized  every  state 
church  in  Christendom,  and  may  well  overwhelm  us  with 
grateful  astonishment,  as  we  trace  the  hand  of  God  in  this 
most  wonderful  feature  of  the  great  American  Revolution. 
Who  would  have  expected  that  the  crowning  glory  of  Amer- 
ican Independence  was  to  be  the  incorporation  into  the  life 
of  a  mighty  nation  of  the  principle  for  which  Baptists  had 
so  long  prayed,  reasoned,  pleaded,  suffered,  and  bled  ? 

When  it  is  borne  in  mind,  that,  during  most  of  this  period, 
no  man  could  hold  office  in  the  Massachusetts  colony  till  he 
had  partaken  of  the  sacrament  in  the  Puritan  churches, — that 


41^  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

Roger  Williams  was  persecuted,  banished,  and  his  life  put  in 
the  extremest  peril,  for  his  opinions, — that  a  man  was  heavily 
fined  for  writing  a  piece  against  the  laws  for  the  support  of 
religion,  and  another  for  reading  it,  though  it  was  never  pub- 
lished,—  that  in  1636  it  was  enacted,  that,  "if  any  Chris- 
tian shall  openly  condemn  the  baptizing  of  infants,  or  shall 
purposely  depart  from  the  congregation  at  the  administration 
of  that  ordinance,  he  shall  be  sentenced  to  be  banished,"  — 
that  an  act  of  disfranchisement  was  passed  against  any  who 
should  attend  Baptist  meetings,  —  that  in  1644<  a  law  was 
made  to  banish  Baptists,  —  that  it  was  enacted  that  any 
person  absent  from  worship  in  the  Pedo-Baptist  churches 
"  shall  forfeit,  for  his  absence,  five  shillings,"  —  that  "  no 
person  shall  publicly  preach,  or  be  ordained  to  the  office  of 
a  teaching  elder,  wheu  any  two  organized  churches,  council 
of  state,  or  general  court  shall  declare  their  dissatisfaction 
thereat,"  —  that  in  six  years  "  twenty-eight  Baptists  were 
imprisoned  at  Bristol,  by  the  constables  of  Rehoboth  for 
ministerial  taxes," — that  in  New  York,  Virginia,  and  South 
Carolina,  laws  equally  or  more  severe  were  in  force  against 
them ;  —  when  these  well-known  facts  are  considered,  no  one 
will  be  surprised  at  the  small  amount  of  Baptist  literature, 
but  rather  that  any  at  all  was  produced. 

We  are  now  to  behold  Baptist  principles  and  literature 
developing  themselves  on  a  theatre  entirely  new  since  the 
Christian  era.  We  are  to  see  how  these  principles  and  their 
literary  outgrowth  modify,  adapt,  produce,  and  reproduce  each 
other,  when  left  to  their  own  inherent  energy,  protected  by 
law  in  common  with  all  other  forms  and  opinions,  but  neither 
pensioned  nor  persecuted.  Their  sturdy  growth  had  already 
snapped  asunder  every  band,  as  Samson  threw  off  the  Phi- 
listines' withes.  Though  weakened  somewhat  by  that  mad- 
ness which,  Solomon  says,  oppression  engenders,  Baptists 
had  won  for  themselves  a  fair  field,  free  from  all  impediments 
but  those  of  prejudice  and  of  pride.  Their  oppressors  had 
fortified  themselves  in  the  chief  seats  of  power,  of  honor,  and 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  413 

learning  :  they  bore  about  tbem  some  marks  of  tbe  furrow 
and  of  the  brick-kiln. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  last  half-century,  the  last  vestige 
of  state  religious  oppression  of  Baptists  was  dropping  off, 
though  civil  disabilities  continued  in  some  of  the  States  many 
years  later.  A  transition  was  now  manifesting  itself  in  the 
Puritan  churches  of  New  England,  which  led  to  the  most 
important  results.  They  had  been  filling  up  with  uncon- 
verted men,  under  the  combined  effects  of  infant  baptism,  the 
half-way  covenant,  lax  doctrine,  and  making  the  Church  a  step- 
ping-stone to  civil  office.  The  influence  of  the  great  awaken- 
ings in  the  days  of  Whitefield  and  Edwards  had  died  away, 
or  was  reacting"  in  various  forms  of  fanaticism  and  formal- 
ism.  The  utterances  of  the  Puritan  pulpits  were  chiefly  doc- 
trinal, argumentative,  and  controversial.  The  Arminianism 
which  had  been  the  dread  and  the  target  of  many  of  the 
old  Puritan  divines,  though  comparatively  latent  in  their 
churches,  had  now  taken  a  new  form  in  the  Methodist  organ- 
ization, which  had  become  bold  and  aggressive,  its  advocates 
dwelling  largely  on  the  alleged  inconsistencies  of  the  old 
Puritan  doctrines,  often  caricaturing,  always  opposing  them, 
while  another  schism  was  manifesting  itself  in  the  opposite 
direction. 

The  seeds  from  which  Unitarianism  in  New  England  grew 
were  first  sown  by  the  Puritans  themselves.  Early  in  the 
present  century,  the  tares  began  to  manifest  themselves  in 
alarming  strength  and  numbers.  Funds  devised  for  the 
support  of  Puritan  churches,  schools,  colleges,  and  religious 
enterprises,  were  diverted,  in  large  amounts,  to  the  support 
of  doctrines  the  most  abhorrent  to  the  spirit  of  Puritanism. 
Between  the  preaching  of  dead  orthodoxy  and  living  hetero- 
doxy, of  dead  faith  and  living  reason,  the  extensive  breaking 
up  of  the  old  foundations,  and  the  violent  controversies  that 
arose,  the  power  of  persecution  was  lost. 

This,  too,  was  a  transition  period  in  political  opinions. 
The  old  Federalists  party,  which  included  the  more  strictly 


414  LITERATURE    OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

religious  and  high-church  elements,  particularly  the  Puritan, 
was  now  out  of  power.  In  the  State  of  Virginia,  a  mighty 
revolution  of  politico-religious  opinion  had  taken  place,  com* 
mencing  ahout  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  by  which  the 
dominant  episcopacy  of  the  colony  had  been  overthrown,  and 
its  monopolies  taken  away,  while  Baptist  principles  had  made 
rapid  progress.  As  a  natural  consequence,  the  Baptists  of 
that  day  were  largely  of  the  Jeffersonian  school  in  politics, 
as  their  oppressors  were  largely  of  the  opposite  school.  The 
Puritan  preachers  declaimed  loudly  against  the  War  of  181c2: 
Baptist  preachers  preached  Christ,  prayed  for  the  President, 
and  won  rapidly  on  the  public  respect  and  confidence.  The 
Puritans,  in  common  with  many  Pedo-Baptist  bodies,  were 
weakened  by  divisions  and  contentions  ;  and  many,  who  nat- 
urally looked  to  them  for  a  spiritual  home,  found  it  only 
among  the  Baptists. 

Other  causes  combined  to  make  this  the  era  of  a  new  spir- 
itual and  intellectual  life  to  the  Baptists  of  that  day.  It  was 
the  era  of  voluntary  benevolent  organization,  the  beginning 
of  those  great  religious  movements  which  combined  the  en- 
ergies of  the  various  religious  bodies  or  denominations,  for 
the  diffusion  of  the  Bible,  of  tracts  and  books,  and  for  the 
extension  of  Sunday-schools  all  over  the  land.  American 
Christians  of  various  names,  emulating  the  example  of  their 
brethren  in  England,  had  now  opened  their  eyes  to  the  claims 
of  the  heathen.  The  religious  energies  of  the  people  were 
beginning  to  adjust  themselves  to  the  novel  condition  of 
things  in  a  state  of  absolute  freedom. 

The  baptism  of  Judson  and  Rice,  after  their  arrival  on 
heathen  ground,  —  the  return  of  the  latter  to  this  country,  his 
extensive  travels,  his  powerful  and  persevering  labors,  —  the 
united  action  of  the  then  scattered  Baptists,  —  the  stirring 
appeals  which  then,  for  the  first  time,  were  circulated  from 
North  to  South,  from  East  to  West,  —  the  letters  of  Carey, 
of  Marshman,  of  Fuller,  Ryland,  Sutcliffe,  —  the  polished  elo- 
quence of  Hall,  the  mighty  thoughts  of  John.  Foster, — gave 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  4 15 

a  new  turn  to  Baptist  thinking  in  America,  and  imparted  a 
powerful  impulse  to  our  literature. 

S.  The  principal  Baptist  writers  and  scholars  in  active  life, 
in  1814,  were  Rev.  Drs.  Baldwin,  of  Boston;  Stanford,  of 
New  York  ;  Alison,  Hoi  combe,  Rogers,  and  Staughton,  of 
Philadelphia  ;  Semple,  of  Virginia ;  Furman,  of  South  Car- 
olina ;  Mercer,  of  Georgia;  and  the  brilliant  Maxcy,  who  was 
then  President  of  South  Carolina  State  University. 

The  first  ten  years,  to  1824,  were  not  fruitful  of  literary 
works.  Judson's  sermon,  assigning  the  reasons  of  his  change 
on  baptism,  preached  in  Calcutta,  in  1812,  was  not  repub- 
lished in  this  country  till  1817-  In  the  same  year,  an  Amer- 
ican edition  of  Robinson's  "  History  of  Baptism,"  edited  by 
Mr.  Benedict,  was  issued  from  the  house  of  Lincoln  &  Ed- 
mands.  Strictures  on  the  work  appeared  in  the  Baptist 
Magazine,  to  which  Mr.  Benedict  replied.  Some  brief  issues 
in  pamphlet  form,  by  Elisha  Andrews,  Dr.  Baldwin,  Caleb 
Blood,  Dr.  Chaplin,  William  Collier,  Elisha  Cushman,  Henry 
aud  Hosea  Holcombe,  John  Leland,  Jesse  Mercer,  W.  Par- 
kinson, Silas  Stearns,  D.  Sharp,  and  Charles  Train,  with 
some  small  works  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Chapin,  who  renounced 
<he  pedo-baptism  of  the  Congregationalists  to  become  a  Bap- 
tist, and  an  abridged  edition  of  Benedict's  History,  make  up 
the  sum  of  the  literary  issues  of  this  decade. 

The  Magazine  was  the  organ  of  Foreign  and  Home  Mis- 
sions, as  well  as  of  the  denominational  interests  and  general 
benevolent  movements  of  the  Baptists.  To  it  they  looked 
for  religious  intelligence,  for  literary  reviews,  for  obituaries, 
and  for  the  defence  of  their  principles.  Brief  biographies 
of  Robert  Hall,  of  Menno,  Tallmadge,  Winchell,  Fuller, 
Winn,  Gale,  Fawcett,  Keach,  John  Howard,  Thomas  Hollis, 
Dr.  Rogers,  Dr.  Carey,  and  others,  are  found  in  its  pages. 
Addresses  and  appeals  in  behalf  of  the  Foreign  Missions 
were  sent  far  and  wide  through  the  Magazine ;  the  letters 
of  Judson,  then  unknown  by  face  to  the  Baptists,  coming 
from  the  far-off,  almost  unknown  empire  of  Burmah,  stirred 


416  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

their  hearts  like  a  trumpet-peal.  The  visit  of  Mrs.  Judson 
to  this  country,  near  the  close  of  this  decade,  increased 
greatly  the  interest  in  their  Mission,  and  stirred  up  much 
literary  discussion. 

The  next  ten  years,  to  1834<,  was  a  period  of  more  ener- 
getic preparation  for  increased  literary  activity.  The  thrill- 
ing accounts  of  Judson's  imprisonment,  the  heroic  fortitude 
of  his  wife,  and  their  fearful  sufferings,  were  published  far 
and  wide  in  this  country,  even  in  the  secular  papers,  investing 
our  devoted  missionaries  with  something  akin  to  the  glory 
of  martyrdom.  The  Memoir  of  Pearce,  by  Fuller,  was  a 
beautiful  picture  of  primitive  piety,  united  with  ministerial 
faithfulness.  The  republication  of  Pengilly's  M  Guide,"  in 
1825,  indicates  that  the  pen  of  Baptists  in  this  country  had 
not  yet  been  much  employed  in  that  department. 

In  the  early  part  of  1 829,  the  Memoir  of  Ann  H.  Jud- 
son, by  Rev.  J.  D.  Knowles,  appeared.  A  second  edition 
was  immediately  called  for  ;  it  was  favorably  noticed  and 
generally  read,  exciting  a  degree  of  interest  in  the  Mission 
hitherto  un parallelled.  Few  missionary  biographies  have 
been  so  extensively  read,  or  produced  equal  effects.  The 
heroines  of  romance  paled  before  the  heroine  of  faith.  No 
American  female  had  stirred  such  enthusiasm  ;  her  praises 
were  on  almost  every  tongue.  Almost^  for  the  "  Christian 
[Unitarian]  Examiner"  said  of  the  Mission,  judged  by  that 
memoir,  "  It  is  our  deliberate  conviction  that  the  whole  enter- 
prise was  uncalled  for."  And  after  praising  Mrs.  Judson's 
talents,  energy,  and  self-sacrificing  spirit,  as  personal  traits, 
the  reviewer  adds,  "  But  we  repeat  our  most  serious  convic- 
tion that  she  would  better  have  remained  at  home." 

During  this  period,  the  Baptists  of  New  England  turned 
their  attention  to  the  more  thorough  theological  education  of 
their  ministry.  In  some  of  the  older  portions  of  the  country, 
it  was  a  transition  period  from  an  uneducated,  unsalaried  min- 
istry, preaching  in  uncouth,  badly  located  houses  and  to  illiter- 
ate people,  to  an  improved   outward  condition.      Manufactur- 


LITERATURE    OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  447 

ing  villages  sprung  up,  draining  the  population  from  the  old 
centres.  Our  young  ministers  entered  these  openings,  gath- 
ering flourishing  churches.  A  new  class  of  literature  was 
called  for,  explaining  and  defending  our  doctrines,  and  suited 
to  popular  reading*.  The  missionary  spirit  stimulated  the 
desire  for  ministerial  education,  as  well  as  for  books  and 
periodicals.  Weekly  religious  papers  now  commenced  their 
agency  ;  the  pens  of  young  writers  attempted  short  flights 
in  their  columns ;  the  fruits  of  maturer  literary  and  theolog- 
ical culture  began  to  appear.  An  improved  literary  taste 
stimulated  the  demand  and  supply.  The  blade  grew  vigor- 
ously ;  some  first-fruits  appeared,  but  the  most  prominent 
feature  of  our  literature  during  this  period  was  its  promise 
for  the  future. 

In  the  ten  years  preceding  1844*,  the  full  corn  ripened 
more  rapidly.  In  1836  the  "Christian  Review"  entered  on 
its  career  as  our  leading  literary  organ.  Its  periodical  issues 
have  added  twenty-eight  large  volumes  to  our  literature, 
much  of  it  of  permanent  value.  Though  at  this  writing  it 
is  in  a  state  of  syncope,  we  trust  it  will  soon  be  revived,  to 
resume  its  useful  career  with  new  vigor. 

Many  valuable  books  were  issued  during  this  decade,  and 
the  religious  weekly  press  greatly  extended  its  activity,  abil- 
ity, and  influence.  But  the  religious  and  missionary  efficiency 
of  the  time  was  greatly  distracted  by  agitations  which  had 
no  small  influence  on  literary  progress.  Books,  pamphlets, 
periodicals,  pulpits,  and  platforms  were  largely  occupied  with 
discussions  of  the  relations  of  our  churches,  benevolent  soci- 
eties, and  missionary  enterprises,  to  Southern  slavery.  A 
peculiar  cast  was  thus  given  to  the  literature  of  that  period. 

The  next  decade,  to  1854,  was  more  fruitful  of  permanent 
literature,  the  results  of  critical  study.  The  increase  of 
our  periodical  literature,  also,  was,  perhaps,  greater  during 
this  period  than  any  of  the  preceding;  its  tone  more  ele- 
vated, its  circulation  far  more  general.  The  close  adherence 
of  Baptists  in  all  parts  of  the  country  to  the  New  Testament 

53 


418  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

had  prepared  them  to  be  of  one  mind  and  one  way,  in  the 
absence  of  creeds,  confessions,  rubrics,  or  prayer-books  for 
their  guidance ;  so  that  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  the 
churches  were  substantially  the  same  in  all  parts  of  the  land. 

It  was  during  this  period  that  our  church  polity  became 
the  subject  of  distinct,  special  attention.  Its  essential,  radi- 
cal differences  from  the  various  ecclesiasticisms  which  have 
sprung-  up  from  the  persecutions  of  primitive  Christianity, — 
modified  as  they  have  floated  down  the  stream  of  time,  — 
its  Divine  authority  and  sacred  claims,  as  contained  in  the 
New  Testament,  were  now  brought  prominently  to  view. 
Church  polity  has  become  a  branch  of  study  in  our  theo- 
logical seminaries,  and  m^any  books  on  church  government 
and  discipline  have  been  prepared  and  circulated  among  the 
churches.  It  is  now  seen,  that,  although  Baptist  churches 
are  severally  independent  of  all  ecclesiastical  control,  yet,  in 
doctrine  and  in  action,  they  are  more  nearly  a  unit  than  any 
other  religious  order  or  body  in  the  country. 

From  1854  to  the  present  time  our  literary  progress  was 
onward,  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  involving  us  in 
the  horrors  of  a  dreadful  civil  war.  This  put  a  stop  to  book 
literature  in  the  Rebellious  States  ;  and  their  weekly  relig- 
ious papers  are  nearly  all  extinguished,  the  few  that  survive 
being  so  reduced  in  size  and  quality  of  execution  as  to  be  of 
little  worth.  In  the  Loyal  States,  the  literary  standard  of  the 
weekly  press  has  been  much  elevated  since  the  commence- 
ment of  this  decade,  and  the  circulation  in  some  cases  much 
extended.  In  the  Border  States,  the  troubles  caused  by  the 
Rebellion  in  its  early  stages,  and  even  before  fighting  com- 
menced, destroyed  our  weekly  papers. 

Our  book  and  pamphlet  literature  has  felt  the  shock  com- 
mon to  all  publishing  interests,  yet  its  vitality  is  as  vigorous 
as  ever.  Valuable  works  from  Baptist  pens  are  issuing  from 
various  publishing  houses,  as  in  a  time  of  peace.  No  people 
are  more  loyal  to  the  Government  than  the  Baptists  of  the 
Loyal  States  ;  no  religious  body  in  the  Revolted  States  has 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  419 

so  large  a  proportion  of  loyal  hearts,  or  so  few  active  Rebels, 
as  the  Baptist.  The  pen  has  its  victories  as  well  as  the 
sword,  as  the  history  of  our  literature  abundantly  shows. 

When  our  fathers  entered  on  the  work  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, the  country  was  suffering"  the  evils  of  a  foreign  war  : 
we  meet  to  celebrate  the  semi-centennial  anniversary,  amid  the 
conflicts  of  civil  war.  We  are  now  to  review  the  progress 
of  fifty  years  ;  to  note  the  development  of  that  form  of 
doctrine  which  we  have  received  as  the  Christianity  of  the 
Apostolic  age,  under  the  light  of  the  nineteenth  century,  the 
warmth  of  liberty,  the  protection  of  civil  law,  and  the  in- 
spiring motives  of  the  spirit  of  Missions.  We  are  to  see 
in  what  directions  our  thoughts  have  been  flowing  ;  what  we 
have  done  to  stamp  those  thoughts  on  the  current  records  of 
the  times.  The  spoken  words  of  our  fathers  have  passed 
away  ;  the  thoughts  which  have  found  place  in  the  enduring 
literature  of  the  age  remain  to  us. 

Literature  must  be  analyzed  and  classified,  in  order  to  esti- 
mate its  relative  value.  But  this  is  attended  with  difficul- 
ties. Some  works  belong  to  one  class,  some  to  more  than 
one ;  their  titles  are  not,  in  all  cases,  the  indices  of  their  class. 
A  list  of  titles  and  of  names  of  authors  would  give  no  defi- 
nite idea  of  our  literature  ;  while  a  classification  according  to 
merit,  or  usefulness,  or  quality  of  style,  is  impossible.  The 
same  books  which  some  bibliographers  would  place  in  one 
class  would  be  differently  arranged  by  others;  yet  we  must 
attempt  a  classification  of  this  literature,  however  loose  and 
imperfect,  or  liable  to  critical  objections,  it  may  be. 

A  complete  catalogue  of  the  works  produced  by  Baptist 
authors  in  the  past  fifty  years  is  not  attempted.  The  most 
we  can  do  is  to  take  a  somewhat  orderly  ramble  through  our 
literary  garden,  see  what  has  been  done  by  way  of  laying  out 
walks,  grubbing,  blasting,  levelling  downwards  and  upwards, 
trenching,  draining,  manuring,  planting  and  transplanting 
trees,  laying  out  flower-beds,  putting  in  seeds,  pruning,  graft* 
,  ing,  and  weeding.     This  garden  is  in  three  general  divisions, 


4-20  LITERATURE    OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

according  to  the  kind  of  planting  and  tillage  in  each,  as  trees, 
vines,  and  annual  plants.  Or,  to  drop  the  figure,  the  first 
division  of  our  literature  is  into  three  departments,  according 
to  outward  form,  viz.,  into  Books,  Pamphlets,  and  Period- 
icals. 

BOOKS. 

Our  book  literature,  the  most  permanent  in  form,  may  be 
comprised  in  three  general  divisions,  viz. :  — 

I.  Religious  Literature. 

II.  Denominational  Literature. 
II.   General  Literature. 

By  following  this  division  we  shall  see,  in  the  first  place, 
what 'Baptist  authors  of  the  last  fifty  years  have  done  in  the 
cause  of  sacred  learning,  in  explaining  and  defending  the 
generally  received  truths  of  Christianity,  how  they  have 
preached  these  truths,  how  they  have  honored  them  in  their 
lives,  how  they  have  traced  out  their  progress  in  the  world, 
how  much  they  have  added  to  the  common  stock  of  knowl- 
edge of  foreign  countries  ;  in  the  second  place,  how  they 
have  explained  and  defended  their  own  peculiar  doctrines  and 
practices,  how  their  lives  have  borne  witness  to  their  profes- 
sions, how  these  doctrines  and  practices  have  been  treated 
by  hostile  powers,  how  they  have  triumphed,  how  they  have 
found  utterance  in  hymns  of  praise,  or  in  the  language  of 
youth,  or  in  church  creeds  ;  and,  in  the  third  place,  what  Bap- 
tist scholars  and  educators  have  done  in  the  general  cause  of 
critical  and  classical  learning,  in  the  advance  of  science,  of 
general  literature,  history,  poetry,  music,  fiction,  biography, 
and  the  making  of  text-books  for  schools  and  colleges.  This 
survey  includes  the  whole  field  of  modern  literature. 

I.  Religious  Literature. 

To  this  division  belong  those  books  whose  object  is  to 
promote  piety,  sound  doctrine,  religious  knowledge,  and  cor- 
rect morals,  in  general,  or  to  oppose  the  grosser  and  more 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  4£1 

pernicious  forms  of  error.       They  are  in  eight  classes,  as 
follows  :  — 

1.  Didactic;  or  that  class  of  books  designed  to  teach 
some  portion  of  the  leading  or  generally  received  truths  of 
Christianity,  without  special  reference  to  denominational  dif- 
ferences. The  following  authors  have  contributed  to  this 
class  of  literature  :  — 

Andrew  Broaddus,  of  Va.     "  History  of  the  Bible."    8vo.     1815. 

William  Collier,  Mass.  "  Gospel  Treasury."  4  vols.  Boston.  "  Evan- 
gelical Instructor." 

William  Parkinson,  N.  Y.  "  A  Treatise  on  the  Public  Ministry  of  the 
Word."    1818. 

Henry  Holcombe,  Pa.     "  Primitive  Theology."    1822. 

John  Stanford,  N.  Y.  "  The  Aged  Christian's  Companion."  1829. 
Two  editions. 

Jesse  Mercer,  Ga.     "  Ten  Letters  on  the  Atonement."     1830. 

James  Loring,  Mass.     "Am  I  a  Christian  ?  " 

J.  Newton  Brown,  Pa.  "  Encyclopaedia  of  Religious  Knowledge." 
1835.     "  Obligations  of  the  Sabbath."     1853. 

Howard  Malcom,  Mass.  "  Bible  Dictionary."  140,000  copies  sold.  A 
new  edition,  enlarged,  since  published.  "  Christian  Rule  of  Marriage." 
"  Extent  of  the  Atonement." 

Joseph  S.  C.  F.  Frey.  "  Narrative."  1833.  First  published  in  London. 
Passed  through  ten  editions.  "  Essays  dn  the  Passover."  1834.  "Joseph  and 
Benjamin."  2  vols.  12mo.  A  very  popular  work.  "  Judah  and  Israel ;  or, 
The  Restoration  of  Christianity."  1837.  "Lectures  on  Scripture  Types."  2 
vols.     1841. 

Daniel  Hascall,  N.  Y.     "  Elements  of  Theology."     1840. 

R.  B.  C.  Howell,  Tenn.     "  The  Way  of  Salvation." 

Robert  Turnbull,  Conn.  "  The  Theatre."  1836.  A  new  edition. 
"  The  Claims  of  Jesus."  1841.  "  Theophany ;  or,  The  Manifestation  of  God 
in  Christ."  1849.  W'ith  a  new  edition,  touching  Bushnell's  theories.  "  The 
World  we  live  in."  1851.  "  Christ  in  History."  1853.  "  Life-Pictures 
from  a  Pastor's  Note-Book."     1857. 

George  W.  Anderson,  N.  J.  "  The  Way  to  Christ,  and  the  WTalk  in 
Christ." 

Francis  Wayland,  R.  I.  "  Limitations  of  Human  Responsibility." 
1838.  "  The  Apostolic  Ministry."  1853.  "Letters  on  the  Ministry  of  the 
Gospel."    18G3. 

William  R.  Williams,  N.  Y.  "  Lectures  on  the  Lord's  Prayer."  1855. 
Republished  in  England.     "  Religious  Progress."     1850. 

Henry  J.  Ripley,  Mass.  "  Sacred  Rhetoric."  1849.  "  Hints  on  the 
Promotion  of  Piety  in  the  Christian  Ministry." 

Henry  C.  Fish,  N.  J.  "  Primitive  Piety  Revived  :  a  Prize  Essay." 
12mo.  250  pp.  "History  and  Repository  of  Pulpit  Eloquence,  containing 
Sketches  of  Preaching  and  Preachers  in  all  Countries  and  Times,  with  the 


422  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

Masterpieces  of  Sacred  Oratory."  2  vols.  8vo.  pp.1235.  "Pulpit  Elo- 
quence of  the  Nineteenth  Century,  containing  Discourses  of  Eminent  Min- 
isters." 8vo.  pp.  819.  "The  Price  of  Soul  Liberty,  and  who  paid  it." 
Mr.  Fish  is  also  the  author  of  several  premium  essays,  and  of  tracts  for  the 
American  Tract  Society. 

J.  L.  Dagg,  Ga.     "  Manual  of  Theology." 

William  Hague,  Mass.  "  Christianity  and  Statesmanship."  1855. 
"  Home  Life." 

Robert  W.  Cushman,  Mass.  "A  Pure  Christianity  the  World's  only 
Hope."     1845. 

Elias  L.  Magoon,  N.  Y.  "  Republican  Christianity."  "  Proverbs  for 
the  People." 

Baron  Stow,  Mass.     "  Christian  Brotherhood."     "  First  Things."    1857. 

Kazlitt  Arvine,  Mass.  "  Cyclopaedia  of  Moral  and  Religious  Anec- 
dotes." 8vo.  Several  editions  have  been  published  in  London.  "  Cyclo- 
paedia of  Anecdotes  of  Literature  and  Fine  Arts."     1854.     pp.  725. 

Pharcellus  Church,  N.  Y.  "  Religious  Dissensions ;  their  Cause  and 
Cure  :  a  Prize  Essay."  "Antioch  ;  or,  The  Increase  of  Moral  Power  in  the 
Church."    "  The  Philosophy  of  Benevolence  :  a  Prize  Essay." 

Oakman  S.  Stearns,  Mass.  "  The  Person  and  Work  of  Christ." 
Translated  from  the  German. 

Franklin  Wilson,  Md.  "  Duties  of  a  Pastor."  "  Duties  of  Churches 
to  their  Pastors." 

William  C.  Duncan.  "  Life,  Character,  and  Acts  of  John  the  Baptist." 
"  The  Tears  of  Jesus."     "  Pulpit  Gift  Book." 

Rufus  Babcock,  N.  Y.  "  Tales  of  Truth  for  the  Young."  1838.  "  The 
Emigrant's  Mother."     1859. 

Jeremiah  B.  Jeter,  Va.  "  The  Christian  Mirror."  "  Business  and 
Devotion." 

Daniel  C.  Eddy,  Mass.  "Lectures  to  Young  Men."  "Young  Wom- 
an's Friend."  "  Heroines  of  the  Missionary  Enterprise."  Republished  in 
England  and  Holland.  "Angel  Whispers."  A  volume  of  sermons  of  con- 
solation. 

J.  A.  Goodhue,  Mass.     "  The  Crucible  ;  or,  Tests  of  a  Regenerate  Life." 

William  W.  Everts,  N.  Y.  "  Bible  Manual."  "  Pastor's  Hand-Book." 
"  The  Bible  Prayer-Book."     "  Scripture  School-Reader." 

M.  R.  Torrey,  Mass.     "  Premature  Church  Membership." 

WlLLIAM  C.  Buck,  Kv.     "The  Philosophy  of  Religion." 

Cornelius  Tyree,  Va.     "  The  Living  Epistle." 

E.  F.  Winkler,  S.  C.     "  The  Spirit  of  Missions." 

Justus  A.  Smith,  111.  "  Letters  to  a  Bible-Class,  on  the  Canon  of  Scrip- 
ture and  its  Inspiration." 

ABRAHAM  II.  Granger,  R.  I.     "The  Voice  of  Christ  in  the  Storm." 

2.  Critical  and  Excgetical,  including  Translations*  The 
labors  of  American  Baptists  in  this  department  of  general 
religious  literature  have  mostly  been  of  recent  date  ;  but  if 
the  first-fruits  are  the  earnest  of  the  harvest,  and  samples 


LITERATURE    OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  4#3 

of  what  we  may  expect  it  to  be,  we  may  hope  for  one  of 
immense  richness  in  future  years.  Authors  of  this  class 
are  :  — 

Irah  Chase,  Mass.  "  The  Work  claiming  to  be  the  Constitutions  of  the 
Holy  Apostles,  including  the  Canons,  with  a  Prize  Essay  on  their  Origin  and 
Contents."  1848.  pp.498.  "  Remarks  on  the  Book  of  Daniel,  in  Regard 
to  the  Kingdoms,  especially  the  Fourth,  the  2300  Days,  the  Seventy  Weeks, 
and  the  Events  predicted  in  the  last  three  Chapters."  1844.  "  The  Mean- 
ing of  Irense us  in  the  Phrase  '  Regenerated  unto  God.' "  "  The  Testimony 
of  Origen  respecting  the  Baptism  of  Children."  These  last,  both  in  one 
volume. 

Henry  J.  Ripley,  Mass.  "  The  Four  Gospels,  with  Notes."  In  2  vols. 
pp.  288,  270.  1839.  15,000  copies  sold.  "Acts  of  the  Apostles,  with  Notes." 
1843.  8500  copies  sold.  "  The  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  with  Notes."  1857. 
"  Representations  respecting  Baptism  in  Robinson's  Lexicon."  Notes  on  other 
portions  of  the  New  Testament  are  in  preparation. 

Horatio  B.  Hackett,  Mass.  "  Chaldee  Grammar,  translated  from  the 
German,  with  Additions."  1845.  "Exercises  in  Hebrew  Grammar,  with 
Selections  from  the  Greek  New  Testament  for  Translation  into  Hebrew." 
1847.  pp.  115.  "A  Commentary  on  the  Original  Text  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles."  1852.  pp.  407.  Revised  edition  stereotyped  in  1858.  pp.  480. 
Reprinted  in  England.  "  Notes  on  the  Epistle  to  Philemon,  with  a  revised 
Translation."  1860.  Dr.  Hackett  also  contributed  thirty  articles  to  Smith's 
"  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,"  chiefly  in  the  second  and  third  volumes,  and  nu- 
merous articles  to  the  "  New  York  Theological  and  Literary  Review,"  "  Bib- 
lical Repository,"  "  Bibliotheca  Sacra,"  and  "  Christian  Review." 

Asahel  C.  Kexdrick,  N.  Y.  "  Olshausen's  Commentary  on  the  New 
Testament,  revised  and  edited,  with  Notes."     6  vols.     pp.  3694. 

Thomas  J.  Conant,  N.  Y.  "  Gesenius's  Hebrew  Grammar,  translated 
from  the  German."  "A  New  Translation  of  the  Book  of  Job."  "A  Synop- 
tical View  of  the  Uses  of  the  Word  BanrL&iv  in  Classic  Greek,  in  the  Septu- 
agint  and  New  Testament." 

Mrs.  II.  C.  Conant,  N.  Y.  "  Translations  of  Neander's  Commentaries 
on  the  Epistles  to  the  Philippians,  of  James,  and  John." 

Robert  E.  Pattisox,  Mass.  "A  Commentary,  Explanatory,  Doctrinal, 
and  Practical,  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesiaus."     1859.     pp.  224. 

Isaac  T.  HintoN.     "The  Prophecies  of  Daniel  illustrated." 

Alvah  Hovey,  Mass.  "  Life  of  Chrysostom,  translated  from  the  Ger- 
man." 1854.  pp.  239.  In  conjunction  with  David  B.Ford.  "The  Mir- 
acles of  Christ."     pp.  319.     1854. 

Robert  Turxbull,  Conn.  "  Vital  Christianity,  with  Introduction  and 
Notes."  Translated  from  Vinet.  1846.  "  Vinet's  Miscellanies."  1852. 
"  Pulpit  Orators  of  France  and  Switzerland."     1852. 

Exocn  Hutchinson,  N.  Y.  "  Syriac  Grammar  and  Chrestomathy." 
"Music  of  the  Bible."     1864. 

Adiel  Sherwood,  Ga.  "  Notes  on  the  (whole)  New  Testament,  Ex- 
planatory and  Practical."     1856.     pp.  732.     8vo. 


424  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

3.  Polemical ;  or  books  designed  to  defend  the  doctrines 
held  in  common  by  Evangelical  or  Protestant  bodies,  or  to 
confute  errors.      To  this  class  belong  :  — 

Elisiia  Andrews.  "  The  Moral  Tendency  of  Universalism."  "  Review 
of  Winchester."     "  Dialogues  on  Universalism." 

John  Tripp,  Me.     A  volume  against  Universalism. 

HOSEA  HoLCOMBE.  "A  Refutation  of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Lawrence's  Pa- 
triotic Discourse  ;   or,  Anti-Mission  Principles  Exposed."    1836. 

David  Pease.  "  The  Good  Man  in  Bad  Company;  or,  Masonry  a  Dan- 
gerous Combination."     8vo.     1830. 

John  Dowling,  N.  Y.  "An  Exposition  of  the  Prophecies  supposed  by 
William  Miller  to  predict  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ."  1840.  "A  Defence 
of  the  Protestant  Scriptures  from  the  Attacks  of  Popish  Apologists."  1843. 
"  History  of  Romanism,  from  the  Earliest  Corruptions  of  Christianity  to  the 
Present  Time."  1845.  8vo.  pp.  734.  25,000  copies  sold  in  less  than  ten 
years. 

Richard  Fuller,  Md.  "  Correspondence  with  Bishop  England  con- 
cerning the  Roman  Chancery."  12mo.  "  Correspondence  with  Dr.  Way- 
land  on  Slavery."     "  Letters." 

John  Russell.  "  The  Serpent  Unveiled."  A  powerful  work  against 
Universalism. 

Wilson  C.  Rider,  Me.     A  volume  of  lectures  on  Universalism. 

Reuxe  R.  Coon.     A  volume  against  Universalism. 

J.  B.  Jeter,  Va,     "  Campbellism  Examined."     12mo. 

Hiram  Parker.     "  The  Harmony  of  Ages." 

4.  Historical.  To  this  class  the  following-  authors  have 
contributed :  — 


o 


David  Benedict,  R.  I.     "  History  of  all  Religions."     1824. 

Ann  H.  Judson,  Burmah.  "Narrative  of  Missions  to  the  Burmese  Em- 
pire."   1823. 

Baron  Stow,  Mass.  "A  History  of  the  English  Baptist  Missions  in  In- 
dia."    pp.  252.     1835.      For  American  Sunday-School  Union. 

John  O.  Choules,  R.  I.  "  History  of  Missions."  2  vols.  4to.  Third 
edition.  1840.  Edited  Neal's  "  History  of  the  Puritans,"  with  copious  notes; 
Forster's  "  Lives  of  the  Statesmen  of  the  Commonwealth;"  "  Ilinton's  United 
States,"  2  vols. 

Joseph  BANVARD,  Mass.  "Plymouth  and  the  Pilgrims."  "Novelties 
of  the  New  World."  "  Romance  of  American  History."  "  Tragic  Scenes 
in  the  History  oi  Maryland."  "Wisdom,  Wit,  and  Whims."  "Story 
Truths."     "  Haoits  of  Birds."     "Wonders  of  the  Deep,"  &c.  &e. 

MRS.  II.  C.  Conant,  N.  Y.  "Popular  History  of  the  English  Bible." 
1856.  pp.  4G0.  "The  New  England  Theocracy."  Translated  from  the 
German  of  Uhden. 

SKWALL  S.  Cutting,  N.  Y.  UnderhilPs  "  Struggles  and  Triumphs  of 
Religious  Liberty."     12mo.     Edited. 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  405 

William  Dean,  Bangkok,  Siam.      "  The   China  Mission  :  embracing  a 
History  of  the  various  Missions  of  all  Denominations  among  the  Chinese." 
John  Dowling,  N.  Y.     "  The  Judson  Offering." 

5.  Biographical.      The  lives  of  useful  and  eminent  Chris- 
tians, intended  to  illustrate  the  excellence  of  religion. 

James  D.  Knowles,  Mass.  "Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson.'  pp.  234.  1829. 
"  Memoir  of  Roger  Williams,  the  Founder  of  Rhode  Island."  1834.  pp. 
437, 

D.  W.  Phillips,  Mass.    "Memoir  of  Christmas  Evans." 

Romeo  Eltox,  R.  I.  "  Memoir  of  President  Maxcy."  With  a  collection 
of  his  literary  remains.  "  Biographical  Sketch  of  Roger  Williams."  Pub- 
lished in  London.  Edited  "  Callender's  Century  Sermon,  with  Copious  Notes 
and  Biographical  Sketches." 

B.  Sears,  Mass.     "Life  of  Martin  Luther."    1850.     pp.  486. 

Francis  Wayland,  R.  I.  "  Memoir  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  the  Rev. 
Adoniram  Judson,  D.  D."  1853.  2  vols.  pp.  1060.  "  Life  of  Dr.  Chal- 
mers."    1864. 

Mrs.  Emily  C.  Judson,  Burmah.  "  Memoir  of  Sarah  B.  Judson." 
"  The  Kathayan  Slave." 

Jrah  Chase,  Mass.     "  Life  of  John  Bunyan." 

G.  F.  Davis,  Conn.     "  Memoir  of  Abigail  L.  Davis." 

Gurdon  Robins.     "  Life  of  James  H.  Linsley."     1845. 

J.  Clement,  111.    "  Memoir  of  A.  Judson."    1851.    pp.  336. 

J.  B.  Jeter,  Ya.  "Memoir  of  Abner  W.  Clopton."  "Memoir  of  Mrs. 
Henrietta  Shuck,  the  first  Female  Missionary  in  China."  "  Memoir  of  An- 
drew Broaddus." 

A.  C.  Kendrick,  N.  Y.     "  Life  of  Mrs.  Emily  C.  Judson." 

A.  Hovey,  Mass.     "  Life  and  Times  of  Isaac  Backus."     1859.     pp.  364. 

Daniel  C.  Eddy,  Mass.     "  The  Burman  Apostle." 

Lucius  E.  Smith,  Mass.  "  Heroes  and  Martyrs  of  the  Modern  Missionary 
Enterprise." 

"  Life  of  Spencer  H.  Cone,  by  his  Sons." 

"  Life  of  Bela  B.  Jacobs,  by  his  Daughter." 

Robert  Fleming,  N.  C.     "  Life  of  Humphrey  Posey." 

S.  F.  Smith,  Mass.     "  Life  of  Joseph  Grafton."     1849. 

Howard  Malcom,  Mass.     "  Life  of  Lydia  H.  Malcom." 

Reuben  A.  Guild,  R.  I.  "Life,  Times,  and  Correspondence  of  James 
Manning,  and  the  Early  History  of  Brown  University."     pp.  500.     1864. 

John  Gadsby.  "Memoirs  of  the  Principal  Hymn  Writers  and  Com- 
posers of  the  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth  Cejituries." 

Joseph  Belcher,  Pa.     "  Hymns  and  Hymn  Writers." 

H   B.  Hackett,  Mass.    "  Christian  Memorials  of  the  War."    1864. 

Robert  B.  Semple,  Ya.     "  Memoir  of  Elder  Straughan." 

Daniel  Chessman.     "  Memoir  of  Thomas  Baldwin." 

Charles  G.  Sommers.  "  Memoir  of  John  Stanford,  D.  D.,  including 
Memoirs  of  Thomas  Baldwin,  D.  D.,  of  Richard  Furman,  D.  D.,  and  of  John 
Williams,  D.  D."     1836. 

54 


4-06  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

Alonzo  King.     "  Memoir  of  George  Dana  Boardman."     1839. 

Samuel  W.  Lynd,  O.     "Memoir  of  William  Staughton."     1834. 

James  B.  Taylor,  Va.  "  Memoir  of  Luther  Rice."  1841.  "  Lives  of 
Virginia  Baptist  Ministers."     2  vols.    pp.  1000. 

C.  D.  Mallory,  Ga.  "Memoir  of  Jesse  Mercer."  1844.  "  Memoir  of 
Edward  Bdtsfbrd."     pp.  240.     1832. 

A.  D.  Gillette,  D.  C.     "  Memoir  of  Rev.  Daniel  II.  Gillette."     1844. 

Rufus  Babcock,  N.  Y.  "  Memoir  of  Andrew  Fuller."  pp.300.  1830. 
"  Memoir  of  J.  M.  Peck."  18G4.  Twelve  biographical  papers  in  "  Sprague's 
Annals,"  making  fifty  pages. 

J.  M.  Peck,  111.     "  Life  of  «  Father  Clark.' " 

Jeremiah  Asiier.    (Col'd.)     "An  Autobiography."     8vo. 

Barox   Stow,  Mass.     "  Life  of  Harriet  Dowe." 

Orrin  B.  Judd,  N.  Y.     "  Memoir  of  Willard  Judd."     1848. 

Anne  T.  Drinkwater.     "  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Deborah  II.  Porter."     1848. 

H.  Harvey,  N.  Y.     "Memoir  of  Alfred  Bennett."     1852. 

Mrs.  R.  B.  Medbury.     "  Memoir  of  William  G.  Crocker." 

Richard  M.  Nott,  N.  Y.     "  Memoir  of  Abner  Kingman  Xott."     1860. 

S.  F.  Smith,  Mass.     Two  biographical  papers  in  "  Sprague's  Annals." 

6.  Volumes  of  Sermons.  This  list  is  probably  very  in- 
complete. Of  the  ministers  who  have  published  volumes  of 
sermons,  are  :  —  % 

William  Parkinson,  two  volumes.  George  Leonard,  one  volume, 
posthumous.  William  T.  Brantly,  a  very  forcible  and  polished  writer, 
two  volumes.  Francis  Wayland,  three  volumes.  Rufus  W.  Gris- 
wold,  one  volume.  C.  W.  Hodges,  one  volume.  Richard  Fuller,  one 
volume. 

7.  Travels :  for  religious  or  missionary  purposes. 

Howard  Malcom,  Mass.  "  Travels  in  Southeastern  Asia."  2  vols. 
1839. 

T.  J.  Bowen.  "Adventures  and  Missionary  Labors  in  Several  Countries 
of  Central  Africa,  from  1849  to  185G." 

George  W.  Samson,  D.  C.    "  Goshen  and  the  Holy  Land."    "  The  East." 

S.  D.  PilELPS,  Conn.  "  Holy  Land,  with  Glimpses  of  Europe  and  Egypt. 
A  Year's  Tour."     1863.     pp.  407.     Four  editions  issued. 

I).  A.  Randall.  "The  Handwriting  of  God  in  Egypt,  Sinai,  and  the 
Holy  Land:  the  Record  of  a  Journey  from  the  Great  Valley  of  the  West 
to  the  Sacred  Places  of  the  fyst."      1862.     pp.  7G4.     8vo. 

Daniel  C.  Eddy,  Mass.  "  Europa  ;  or,  Travels  in  England,  France,  Sv.  it- 
zerland,  and  Italy,  in  1851."  Also,  "The  Percy  Family,"  in  five  volumes, 
viz.,  "Ireland,"  kt  Scotland  and  England,"  "Paris  and  Amsterdam,"  "The 
Baltic  and  Vesuvius;'  "The  Alps  and  the  Rhine."  Also,  "Walter's  Tour 
in  the  East,"  six  volumes,  viz.,  "Walter  in  Egypt,"  "  Walter  in  Jerusalem," 
"  Walter  in  Samaria,"  "  Walter  in  Damaseus,"  "  Walter  in  Constantinople," 
"  Walter  in  Athens." 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  427 

8.    General  Religious  Boobs  Edited, 

Howard  Malcom  has  edited  Kempis's  * "  Imitation  of  Christ;"  Law's 
"  Serious  Call ; "  Reach's  "  Travels  of  True  Godliness  ;  "  Henry's  "  Commu- 
nicant's Companion  ;  "  Butler's  "Analogy,"  with  introduction  and  notes. 

J.  N.  Brown  has  edited  eleven  volumes  of  Bunyan's  Works,  and  many 
others.     He  has  also  been  editor  of  seven  or  eight  periodicals. 

J.  O.  Choules  edited  James's  "  Church  Member's  Guide;"  "The  Bible 
and  Closet ;  "  and  other  works. 

II.  Denominational  Literature, 

To  this  division  belong  those  books  whose  apparent  object 
is  not  only  to  explain,  advocate,  and  defend  Christianity  in 
general,  but  which  give  special  attention  to  the  principles 
and  practices  of  the  Baptists.  The  following  classes  of  books 
will  be  found  under  this  head,  viz. :  — 

1.  Didactic  ;  or  books  designed  to  teach,  explain,  and  com- 
mend their  principles.      The  authors  of  this  class  are  :  — 

Jesse  Mercer,  Ga.  "  Prerequisites  to  Ordination."  1820.  "Scripture 
Meaning  of  Ordination."  1830.  "  Resemblances  and  Differences  between 
Church  Authority  and  that  of  Association."  1833.  "An  Essay  on  the  Lord's 
Supper."     1833. 

Andrew  Broaddus,  Va.     "A  Treatise  on  Church  Discipline." 

William  Crowell,  111.  "  The  Church  Member's  Manual  of  Ecclesias- 
tical Principles,  Doctrine,  and  Discipline."  184  7.  pp.  272.  "  The  Church 
Member's  Hand-Book  :  a  Guide  to  the  Doctrines  and  Practices  of  Baptist 
Churches."     1849.     pp.  144. 

Warham  Walker,  N.  Y.     "  Church  Discipline." 

Eleazar  Savage.     "  Church  Discipline,  Formative  and  Corrective." 

J.  L.  Reynolds.     •'  Treatise  on  Church  Order." 

Joseph  Belcher,  Pa.     "  Baptisms  of  the  New  Testament." 

Thomas  F.  Curtis,  Pa.  k'  Communion."  "  The  Progress  of  Baptist 
Principles  in  the  last  Hundred  Years." 

R  B.  C.  Howell.  "  The  Deaconship."  "  Terms  of  Communion  at  the 
Lord's  Table." 

Wilson  Jewell,  Pa.     "  Baptism  ;  or,  The  Little  Inquirer."     1838. 

Samuel  W.  Lynd.     "  Baptism  a  Divine  Institution." 

P.  II.  Mell.     "Baptism:  its  Mode  and  Subjects."     1854. 

Richard  Fuller,  Md.   "  Baptism  and  Communion :  an  Argument."  1849. 

T.  L.  Davidson.     "  Baptism  and  Conversion." 

N.  M.  Crawford.  "  The  Baptism  of  Jesus  :  its  Fulfilment  of  Righteous- 
ness."    1855. 

Francis  Wayland,  R.I.  "Notes  on  the  Principles  and  Practices  of 
Baptist  Churches."     1857.     pp.  336. 

J.  L.  Dagg,  Ga.     "Church  Order."     1858.    pp.312.     8vo. 


4.£8  LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

Edmund  TuBNET.     "  Baptism,  in  the   Import  and  Explicitness  of  the 

Command." 

William  C.  Duncan.     tl  Symbolic  Rite  of  Baptism." 
DUDLEY  C.  IIaynes,  N.  Y.     "  The  Baptist  Denomination." 
Edward  T.  Hiscox,N.  Y.     "  The  Baptist  Church  Directory."     1859. 
Minor   G.   Clarke,  Pa.      "  Christian  Baptism  and  the  Christian  Com 

munion."     pp.  140. 

Albert  N.  Arnold.     "  Prerequisites  to  Communion  ;  or,  The  Scriptural 

Terms  of  Admission  to  the  Lord's  Supper." 

2.  Historical.  Among  the  authors  of  books  of  this  class, 
written  in  the  special  interest  of  the  Baptist  body,  the  vener- 
able David  Benedict  began  his  labors  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  half-century,  and  still  continues  among  us. 
His  works  are  :  — 

"A  History  of  the  Baptists."  In  two  volumes.  1813.  An  Abridgment 
of  the  same  in  1820,  in  one  volume.  "  General  History  of  the  Baptist  De- 
nomination in  America,  and  in  all  Parts  of  the  World."  8vo.  pp.  990.  1848. 
"  Fifty  Years  among  the  Baptists."     Historical  and  didactic.     1858.    pp.460. 

Robert  B.  Semple.     "  History  of  the  Virginia  Baptists."     1810. 

William  Freitoe.     "  History  of  the  Ketockton  Baptist  Association." 

Warren  Association.    "  Compendium  of  Minutes,  17G5-1828."    1798-1830. 

Richard  Furman.     "  History  of  the  Charleston  Association." 

Jesse  Mercer.  "  History  of  the  Georgia  Baptist  Association."  pp  418. 
1836. 

Horatio  G.  Jones.  *'  History  of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association." 
1823. 

"Baptist  Annual  Register,"  1832.  "Baptist  Triennial  Register,"  1834. 
"  The  American  Baptist  Almanac,"  by  the  Baptist  Publication  Society,  annu- 
ally.   "A  History  of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association."     1843. 

S.  Wright.     "  History  of  the  Shaftsbury  Association." 

Ebenezer  E.  Cummings,  N.  Y.  "  Annals  of  the  New  Hampshire  Bap- 
tists."    1835. 

Isaac  McCoy.     "  History  of  the  Indian  Baptist  Missions."     1840. 

HOSEA   HOLCOMBE.     "  History  of  the  Alabama  Baptists."     1840. 

HENRY  Jackson.,    "Account  of  the  Churches  in  Rhode  Island." 

W.  C.  Duncan.     "History  of  the  Early  Baptists."    pp.  350.     1857. 

WILLIAM  GAMMELL.  "History  of  American  Baptist  Missions."  pp. 
350.     1849. 

William  Hague.  "  The  Baptist  Church  transplanted  from  the  Old  to 
the  New  World."     1846. 

John  Peck.  "  History  of  the  New  York  Baptist  Missionary  Convention." 
1837. 

J.Newton  Brown.  "  History  of  the  Baptist  Publication  Society."  pp. 
300.  1850.  "Descriptive  Catalogue  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society."  pp.  350.  1861.  "  Introduction  to  the  History  of  Baptist  Mar- 
tyrs."    "  Life  and  Times  of  Simon  Mcnno."  pp.  300.      1853. 


LITERATURE    OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  4£Q 

Frederick  Dexxisox.  "  Historical  Notes  of  the  Baptists  and  their 
Principles."      1857. 

Sewall  S.  Cuttixg.  "  Historical  Vindications ;  or,  The  Province  and 
Uses  of  Baptist  History." 

A.  D.  Gillette,  D.  C.  "  History  of  the  Eleventh  Baptist  Church,  Phil- 
adelphia."    1842. 

Joshua  Millett,  Me.     "  History  of  the  Baptists  in  Maine."     1845, 

A.  R.  Beldex,  N.  Y.  "  History  of  the  Cayuga  Baptist  Association."  pp. 
211.     1851. 

G.  W.  Purefoy,  N.  Y.    "  History  of  the  Sandy  Creek  Association."  1859. 

Jacob  Drake.     "  History  of  the  Columbus  Baptist  Association."     1859. 

Jesse  H.  Campbell.     "Baptists  of  Georgia."     pp.  288.     1847. 

Isaac  Davis,  Mass.  "Historical  Discourse  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  Dec.  9,  1862." 

"History  of  the  New  London  Baptist  Association."  pp.  125.  Author's 
name  unknown  to  me. 

3.  Polemic.  Works  designed  to  refute  doctrines  held  by 
religious  bodies  not  regarded  as  holding  the  most  deadly  or 
dangerous  errors,  and  to  establish  some  portions  of  doctrine 
held  by  Baptists.     The  authors  of  this  class  are :  — 

Samuel  Wilcox.  "  Scripture  Manual :  a  Plain  Representation  of  the 
Order  of  Baptism."     12mo.     1818. 

Daxiel  Hascall,  N.  Y.    "  Definitions  of '  Bapto '  and  '  Baptizo.' "   1818. 

Thomas  Baldwin,  Mass.  "  Essay  on  John's  Baptism."  "  Church  Com- 
munion Examined." 

G.  Foote.  "  Brief  Examination  of  the  Mode  and  Subjects  of  Baptism." 
1830. 

Isaac  T.  Hixtox,  La.     "  History  of  Infant  Baptism."     1840. 

William  Hague.     "  Eight  Views  of  Baptism."     1836. 

J.  Richards.     "  Convert's  Guide  to  Baptism." 

J.  J.  Wools ey.     "Baptism."     1840. 

C.  H.  Hoskex.     "Infant  Baptism."     1843. 

R.  B.  C.  Howell.     "  Evils  of  Infant  Baptism." 

Edmund  Turxey.     "  Scriptural  Law  of  Baptism."     1850. 

George  W.  Axdersox.     "  Vindication  of  Baptists." 

Samuel  Hexdersox.  "A  Discourse  of  Methodist  Episcopacy."  "A 
Debate." 

J.  T.  Smith.     "  Infant  Baptism."     1850. 

T.  G.  Joxes.     "  A  Vindication  of  the  Baptists."     1860. 

A.  C.  Daytox.     "  Baptist  Facts  against  Methodist  Fictions."     1859. 

4.  Apologetic  works  ;  being  replies  to  assailants,  supposed 
to  misunderstand  and  misrepresent  Baptist  doctrines  and 
practices.  The  distinction  between  this  and  the  preceding- 
class  is  very  clear,  though  it  may  not  be  easy  to  determine, 


430  LITERATURE    OF    AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

in  all  cases,  to  which  class  a  particular  book  belongs  ;  for 
writers  who  commence  on  the  defensive,  sometimes  change 
to  assailants  before  they  end.  Thus,  Dr.  Baldwin  published 
replies  to  the  attacks  of  Peter  Edwards,  and  letters  in  which 
the  distinguishing  sentiments  of  the  Baptists  are  explained 
and  vindicated,  in  answer  to  a  later  publication  by  the  l\ev. 
Samuel  Worcester.  So  Elisha  Andrews  published  a  vin- 
dication of  the  distinguishing  sentiments  of  the  Baptists 
against  the  writings  of  Messrs.  Coombs,  Miller,  and  Ed- 
wards,  and  a  reply  to  James  Bickersteth  ;  Clark  Kendrick, 
"  Plain  Dealing  with  Pedobaptists,"  being  a  reply  to  attacks 
on  the  Baptist  principle  of  communion. 

The  writers  of  this  class  are  very  numerous,  especially  in 
reply  to  attacks  on  the  established  order  of  the  Baptist 
churches  in  America,  in  regard  to  communion  at  the  Lord's 
table.  This  has  been  chosen  as  the  main  point  of  assault 
by  Pedo-Baptist  writers,  of  all  their  various  sects.  Little 
more  can  be  done  here  than  to  give  a  list  of  the  names  of 
writers,  without  distinguishing  between  books  and  pamphlets. 

Among  those  who  have  written  in  defence  of  the  Baptist  principle 
respecting  the  Lord's  Supper  are:  Thomas  Baldwin,  Jesse  Mercer, 
Daniel  Sharp,  Spencer  H.  Cone,  Andrew  Broaddus,  Daniel 
Merrill,  Gustavus  F.  Davis,  Henry  J.  Ripley,  Barnas  Sears,  J. 

B.  Taylor,  Thomas  F.  Curtis,  Jacob  Knapp,  Albert  N.  Arnold, 
William  Crowell,  H.  Harvey,  John  L.  Walleb,  Alvah  Hovey, 

C.  H.  Pendleton,  M.  V.  Kitzmiller,  Willakd  Judd,  James  Pyper, 
J.  M.  C.  Breaker,  M.  G.  Clarke,  and  J.  Wheaton  Smith. 

Among  apologetic  wliters  in  reply  to  attacks  on  baptism  may  be  mentioned 
Daniel  Merrill,  in  reply  to  various  writers  ;  Hosea  Holcombe,  ''Reply 
to  F.  Emery,"  1882  ;  Irah  Chase,  on  articles  in  "  Robinson's  Lexicon  ;"  II. 
J.  Ripley's  "  Reply  to  Stuart  on  Baptism,"  1833  ;  Adoniram  Judson,  two 
sermons  ;  AVillard  Judd,  "  Review  of  Stuart,"  1836  ;  A.  BRONSON,  "  Reply 
to  Fowler,"  1835  ;  J.  T.  Smith,"  Reply  to  Peters,"  1849  ;  William  Hague, 
"  Replv  to  Cooke  and  Towne  ;  "  T.  G.  Jones,  Vindication  ;  Richard  Ful- 
ler ;  John  Bates,  "  A  Defence  of  Baptists  ; "  John  Dowling,  "  A  Vin- 
dication of  the  Baptists,"  1838. 

5.  Retractions  of  the  tenets  and  practices  of  other  sects 
form  another  class  of  Baptist  literature.  A  very  large  pro- 
portion of  our  ministers  are  converts  from  various  Pedo-Bap- 


LITERATURE    OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  431 

tist  sects,  either  before  or  after  entering  the  ministry.  Of 
those  who  have  published  their  reasons  for  so  doing-,  are  :  — 
Daniel  Merrill,  Stephex  Ciiapin,  Adoniram  Judson,  Simon  J. 
Jarvise,  John  F.  Bliss,  Hubbell  Loomis,  Asa  Prescott,  and  others, 
renouncing  Congregationalism ;  Milo  P.  Jewett  and  others,  renouncing 
Presbyterian  ism  ;  Thomas  Armitage,  Stephen  Remington,  and  others, 
renouncing  Methodism  ;  II.  G.  O.  Cote  and  others,  renouncing  Romanism. 

6.  Sunday- School  Books.  A  large  number  of  Sunday- 
school  books  have  been  prepared  by  Baptist  authors  ;  but, 
as  they  are  mostly  published  anonymously,  I  have  been  un- 
able to  obtain  a  full  list  of  them. 

Among  the  names  that  occur  to  my  memory  are  those  of  George  B.  Ide, 
Baron  Stow,  William  Hague,  A.  A.  Gould,  Joseph  Banvard,  D. 
C  Eddy,  W.  Crowell,  Geo.  B.  Taylor,  Miss  M.  A.  Collier,  Mrs. 
Denison,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Clarke,  H.  C.  Fish,  G.  J.  Carleton,  S.  B. 
Page,  Mrs.  A.  M.  C.  Edmoxd,  &c. 

7-  II/jmn-Books. 

In  hymnology,  the  principal  American  Baptist  writers  of  lyric  poetry  are 
S.  F.  Smith,  Sidney  Dyer,  S.  D.  Phelps,  Stephen  P.  Hill,  Henry 
S.  Washburn,  James  D.  Knowles,  J.  R.  Scott,  Miss  M.  A.  Collier, 
Miss  L.  S.  Hill,  J.  N.  Brown,  R.  Turnbull,  &c.  &c. 

Among  the  compilers  of  Hymn-books  are  Andrew  Broaddus,  of  "  The 
Dover  Selection  of  Hymns,"  and  "  The  Virginia  Selection  of  Hymns;  "  Hosea 
Holcombe,  a  collection  of  hymns,  1815  ;  Jesse  Mercer,  "  The  Chorister," 
1817  ;  James  M.  Winchell,  "  Arrangement  of  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns, 
with  a  Supplement;"  William  Collier,  "A  Selection  of  Hymns  ; "  G. 
F.  Davis,  a  collection  of  hymns;  a  collection  by  G.  F.  Davis  and  J.  IT. 
Linsley  ;  a  collection  of  hymns  by  B.  M.  Hill  ;  "  The  Baptist  Harp  ;  "  J. 
Banvard,  "  Christian  Melodist ;  "  J.  Aldrich,  "  Sacred  Lyre ; "  N.  M. 
Perkins,  "  Vestry  Hymns ;  "  Phineas  Stow,  "  Ocean  Melodies ;  "  B.  Stow 
and  S.  F.  Smith,  "The  Social  Psalmist;"  William  Dassay,  a  collec- 
tion of  hymns;  S.  F.  Smith  and  Baron  Stow,  "The  Psalmist,"  with  a 
'w  Supplement  "  by  J.  B.  Jeter  and  Richard  Fuller  ;  B.  Manly  and  B. 
Manly,  Jr.,  "  The  Southern  Psalmist ;  "  S.  S.  Cutting,  "  Hymns  for  the 
Vestry  and  Fireside;"  John  Dowling,  a  collection;  W.  C.  Buck,  do.; 
"  Manual  of  Psalmody,"  reedited  by  Rufus  Babcock  ;  "  Plymouth  Collec- 
tion," reedited  by  J.  S.  Holme  ;  the  "  Sabbath  Hymn-Book,"  reedited  by 
F.  Wayland  ;  Sidney  Dyer,  "  Devotional  Hymn-Book." 

8.    Catechisms.     American  Baptists  have  not  been  very 

fruitful  in  the  production  of  Catechisms  ;  and  those  which 

they  have  prepared  have  had  but  a  very  limited  influence. 

One  was  prepared  by  Robert  B.  Semple;  one  by  Thomas  Baldwin; 
one  by  Henry  C.  Fish. 


4S2  LITERATURE    OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

9-  Confessions  of  Faith.  In  this  branch  of  literature 
American  Baptists  have  done  very  little  indeed.  Er.ch 
church,  being  independent,  adopts  articles  of  its  own  framing, 
or  those  of  any  other  church,  or  none  at  all,  at  pleasure. 
Some  of  the  oldest  and  most  stable  churches  in  America,  as 
the  First  Church  in  Providence,  have  no  articles.  Of  the 
Confessions  of  Faith  most  in  use  are  the  "  Philadelphia 
Confession  of  Faith,"  so  called,  printed  by  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin in  17i3?  with  many  subsequent  editions,  and  ';  The  New 
Hampshire  Confession  of  Faith,"  which  is  more  extensively 
used  than  any  other.  But,  evidently,  no  reliance  is  placed  on 
any  creed,  except  the  New  Testament,  to  preserve  sameness 
in  doctrine  and  church  order. 

III.    General  Literature. 

Works  of  science,  general  history,  and  biography,  the 
arts,  poetry,  fiction,  and  elegant  letters,  also  text-books,  and 
school-books,  are  arranged  under  this  head.  Their  aim  is, 
rather  to  discipline  the  intellect,  cultivate  the  understanding, 
stimulate  the  conscience,  improve  the  taste,  purify  social  life, 
promote  loyalty,  patriotism,  and  philanthropy,  than  to  advo- 
cate any  particular  religious  doctrine  or  duty.  Books  of 
this  nature   may  be  classed  thus  :  — 

1.  Classical  and  Critical;  including  translations.  Au- 
thors who  have  contributed  to  this  class  are:  — 

William  Staugiiton.  An  edition  of  Virgil,  with  Notes.  He  also  pre- 
pared a  Greek  Lexicon,  which  was  printed  only  in  part.  Dr.  Staughton 
was,  perhaps,  the  most  popular  pulpit  orator  of  his  day,  in  this  country,  and 
though  an  elegant  scholar,  yet  his  many  public  engagements  prevented  him 
from  doing  much  in  classical  and  critical  labors. 

Barnas  Sears.  '!  A  Grammar  of  the  German  Language,  being  a  trans- 
lation from  Noehden,  with  Additions  from  other  German  Authors."  "  Select 
Treatises  of  Martin  Luther,  in  the  Original  German,  with  Philological  Notes, 
and  an  Essay  on  tin-  German  and  English  Etymology."  "The  Ciceronian; 
or,  The  Prussian  Method  of  Teaching  the  Latin  Language." 

Horatio  B.  HACKETT.  "  Plutarch  on  the  Delay  of  the  Deity  in  the  Pun- 
ishment of  the  Wicked."  Greek  text,  with  a  body  of  notes.  1844.  pp.  171. 
The  same  revised,  18G4.  Dr.  Ilackett's  labors  have  been  chiefly  in  the  crit- 
ical department  of  Biblical  and  General  Religious  Literature. 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  ^SS 

James  T.  Champlin.  "  The  Greek  Oration  of  Demosthenes  on  the 
Crown,  with  Notes,  and  a  Chronological  Table."  "  Kiihner's  Latin  Gram- 
mar, with  Exercises,  translated  and  remodelled."  "A  Short,  Comprehensive 
Greek  Grammar,  with  Materials  for  Oral  Exercises,  for  Schools  and  Col- 
leges." 

J.  S.  C.  F.  Frey.  "  Biblica  Hebraica."  "  A  Hebrew  Grammar  in  the 
English  Language,"  which  had  reached  ten  editions  in  1839.  "  A  Hebrew 
and  English  Lexicon."  "  Hebrew  Reader."  "  Hebrew  Student's  Pocket 
Companion." 

Asahel  C.  Kendrick.  "  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Greek  Lan- 
guage." "  Greek  Ollendorf :  a  Progressive  Greek  Grammar."  Dr.  Kendrick 
has  also  contributed  many  critical  articles,  in  aid  of  classical  learning,  to 
various  Reviews. 

John  L.  Lincoln.  A  critical  edition  of  Livy.  A  critical  edition  of 
Horace. 

Albert   Harkness.      Edited   "Arnold's  First  Book   in    Latin."      "A 
Second  Book  in  Latin."     "  A  Latin  Grammar." 
James  R.  Boise.     "  Exercises  in  Greek  Prose  Composition." 
Prof.  J.  F.  Richardson.     "A  Treatise  on  Roman  Orthoepy." 
WiLMAM  J.  Knapp.     "  French  Grammar  and  Chrestomathy." 
S.  F.  Smith  translated  from  the  German  "  Conversations-Lexicon"  articles 
amounting  to  about  one  entire  volume  of  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Americana." 

2.  Works  on  Science.  Some  of  these  are  in  the  form 
of  separate  treatises,  or  text-books,  others  in  periodicals,  or 
cyclopaedias,  or  compilations.  Among  the  earliest  laborers  in 
the  department  of  science  was 

Daniel  H.  Barnes,  who  died  in  1828,  deeply  lamented.  Of  him  an 
eminent  naturalist,  quoted  and  indorsed  by  the  Hon.  Gulian  C.  Verplanck, 
says : — 

"  The  reputation  of  Mr.  Barnes  as  a  naturalist  will  be  immovably  estab- 
lished upon  his  Memoir  on  the  shells  of  his  country.  The  introductory  ob- 
servations, applicable  to  the  whole  study  of  conchology,  are  marked  by  that 
precision,  clearness,  and  lucid  order  for  which  he  was  remarkable.  He  de- 
scribed above  twenty  new  species ;  and,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  he 
received  a  nattering  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  his  labors  were  held  by 
the  learned  in  Europe.  The  great  and  splendid  work  of  Humboldt  on  Mexico 
contains  beautiful  plates  and  descriptions  of  the  science  just  referred  to.  The 
first  zoological  critic  of  Europe,  (the  Baron  de  Farnassac,)  in  commenting 
upon  this  work,  points  out  many  errors  into  which  the  author  has  fallen,  — 
'  errors,'  he  observes,  '  which  had  arisen  from  his  not  having  consulted  the 
works  of  American  naturalists,  and  especially  the  labors  of  Mr.  Barnes.' 

"  As  a  naturalist,  Mr.  Barnes  had  very  peculiar  qualifications.  Familiar 
with  the  learned  and  several  modern  languages,  he  was  enabled  to  pursue  his 
investigations  beyond  the  narrow  limits  of  his  own.  His  inquiries  were  con- 
ducted with  a  caution,  a  patience,  and  a  modest  diffidence,  which  cannot  be 
too  much  imitated."  "  Indeed,"  adds  Mr,  Verplanck,  "  he  sustained  himself 
55 


434  LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

in  every  department  of  duty,  in  a  manner  worthy  of  a  gentleman,  a  scholar, 
a  Christian,  and  a  minister  of  the  Gospel." 

Mr.  Barnes  contributed  several  valuable  papers,  illustrated  by  explanatory 
plates  on  conchology,  to  "  Silliman's  Journal,"  viz.,  "  Geological  Section 
of  the  Canaan  Mountain,"  v.  8-21  ;  "  Memoir  on  the  Genera  Unio  and 
Alasmodonta,  with  numerous  figures,"  vi.  107-127,  258-280;  "Five  Species 
of  Chiton,  with  figures,"  vii.  69-72  ;  "  Memoir  on  Batrachian  Animals  and 
Doubtful  Reptiles,"  xi.  269-29  7,  xiii.  66-70;  "On  Magnetic  Polarity," 
xiii.  70-73  ;  "  Reclamation  of  Unios,"  xiii.  358-364.  Mr.  Barnes  was  an 
eminent  teacher,  and  much  beloved  as  a  minister.  He  also  rendered  very 
important  aid  to  Dr.  Webster,  in  preparing  his  "  Dictionary  of  the  English 
Language." 

JAMES  H.  Ltnsley,  a  kindred  spirit,  of  an  active,  inquiring,  cautious, 
exact  mind,  a  zealous  Baptist,  an  earnest  preacher,  devoted  much  of  his  ener- 
gies to  natural  science,  being  laid  aside  by  disease  from  preaching  the  Gospel. 
He  prepared  a  series  of  papers  on  the  Zoology  of  Connecticut,  for  the  Yale, 
Natural  History  Society,  published  in  the  "  American  Journal  of  Science  and 
Art."  Then  followed  Catalogues  of  the  Birds,  the  Reptiles,  the  Fishes, 
and  the  Shells  of  Connecticut,  published  in  "  Silliman's  Journal"  during  the 
years  1842,  1843,  1844,  and  1845. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Phelps  says  of  him :  "  He  ascertained  more  species  of  birds 
in  Connecticut  than  Wilson  found  in  the  United  States ;  more  of  mammalia 
than  had  been  found  elsewhere  in  New  England ;  and  of  shells,  more  than 
double  the  number  supposed  to  be  resident  there." 

Augustus  A.  Gould,  M.  D.,  Physician  to  the  Massachusetts  General 
Hospital,  an  accomplished  naturalist,  has  contributed  the  following  works: 
u  Genera  of  Shells,  translated  from  Lamarck  ;  "  "A  System  of  Natural  His- 
tory," from  Gall's  Works;  "The  Invertebrata  of  Massachusetts  ;  "  "Prin- 
ciples of  Zoology,"  in  connection  with  Agassiz  ;  "  Mollusca  and  Shells  of 
the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition  under  Captain  Wilkes;"  "Land 
Mollusca  of  the  United  States,"  3  volumes;  "  Mollusca  of  the  North  Pacific 
Expedition."  Dr.  Gould  is  a  member  of  most  of  the  American,  and  has  been 
made  an  honorary  member  of  many  foreign  societies,  for  the  study  of  natural 
history. 

Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  M.  D.,  has  prepared  "  A  Decimal  System 
for  the  Arrangement  of  Libraries;"  and  "A  Perpetual  Calendar  for  the 
Old  and  New  Styles." 

Francis  Wayland.  "  Elements  of  Moral  Science."  "  Elements  of  Po- 
litical Economy."     "  Intellectual  Philosophy." 

ALEXIS  Caswell.  "Lectures  on  Astronomy  before  the  Smithsonian 
Institute."  "  Address  before  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science." 

John  L.  Dagg.     "  Elements  of  Moral  Science." 

Justin  II.  LoOMIS.  "  Elements  of  Geology."  "  Elements  of  Anatomy, 
Physiology,  and  Hygiene  of  the  Hainan  System." 

D.  J.  Macgowan.  A  work  on  Chinese  Horology,  in  "  Report  of  the 
United  States  Commissioner  of  Patents."  "Law  of  Storms,"  in  Chinese. 
The  latter  had  circulation  also  in  Japan. 

James  T.  Champlin.    "  Text-Book  in  Intellectual  Philosophy,  for  Schools 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  4,35 

and  Colleges,  containing  an  Outline  of  the  Science,  with  an  Abstract  of  its 
Historv."  "  Bishop  Butler's  Analogy  and  Discourses."  Edited,  with  an 
'Analysis.  "  First  Principles  of  Ethics,  as  a  Basis  for  Instruction  in  Ethical 
Science,  for  Schools  and  Colleges." 

George  I.  Crack.  "  Divine  Providence,  as  related  to  Physical  Laws." 
Prof  Chace  is  also  the  author  of  several  articles  on  scientific  and  philosoph- 
ical  topics  in  the  leading  Reviews. 

Ghover  S.  Comstock.  "Notes  on  America,"  in  the  "Journal  of  the 
Oriental   Society." 

Larkin  B.  Coles.     "  A  Treatise  on  Physiology." 

3.  General  History.  Some  contributions  have  been 
made  to  this  class  of  General  Literature. 

A.  A.  Ross.     "  The  Civil  and  Religious  History  of  Rhode  Island." 
John  M.  Peck.     "  Western  Annals  "     "  Guide  to  Emigrants." 
Nathaniel    B.    Shurtleff.      "  Records    of   the   Massachusetts  Bay." 

Edited.  "  Passengers  in  the  Mayflower."  "  Remarks  on  the  Census." 
"  Records  of  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth."  "  Memorial  of  the  Inaugura- 
tion of  the  Statue  of  Franklin." 

Samuel  G.  Arnold.     "  History  of  Rhode  Island,"  in  2  volumes. 

George  P.  Putnam.     "  American  Facts." 

Austin  J.  Coolidge.     "  History  and  Description  of  New  England." 

Reuben  A.  Guild.     "  Historical  Sketch  of  Brown  University." 

B.  W.  Whidden.     "  The  Religion  of  China." 

4.  Polite  Literature;  including  literary  works  edited. 
The  most  prolific  laborer  in  the  department  of  elegant  let- 
ters was  the  late 

Rev.  Rufus  W.  Griswold,  D.  D.  He  divided  his  time  between  the 
labors  of  the  ministry  and  the  literary  management  of  several  magazines, 
among  which  were  "  The  New  Yorker,"  "  Brother  Jonathan,"  "  The  New 
World,"  &c.  &c.  For  two  years  he  was  the  editor  of  "  Graham's  Magazine," 
and  for  about  the  same  period  of  the  "  International  Magazine,"  the  plan  of 
which  was  projected  by  himself.  Dr.  Griswold's  literary  labors  were  very  ex- 
tensive, and  he  was  a  voluminous  author.  Some  of  his  works  belong  to  other 
classes  of  literature.  "  He  achieved  an  amount  of  labor,"  says  his  literary 
critic,  "  highly  creditable  to  his  literary  industry.  In  addition  to  the  works 
which  we  are  about  to  mention,  he  gave  to  the  world,  from  time  to  time,  with- 
out his  name,  partly  or  entirely  written  by  himself,  six  or  eight  works  on  his- 
tory and  biography,  a  novel,  seven  discourses  on  historical  and  philosophical 
subjects,  and  contributions  to  magazines  and  newspapers  sufficient  to  fill  a 
dozen  octavo  volumes."  His  Avorks  belonging  to  this  class  are  :  "  The  Bio- 
graphical Annual  for  1842."  12mo.  "The  Curiosities  of  American  Litera- 
ture," as  an  Appendix  to  Disraeli's  '•  Curiosities  of  Literature."  "  The  Poets 
and  Poetry  of  America."  8vo.  1842.  This  work  received  the  highest  com- 
mendations from  the  ablest  critics.    E.  P.  Whipple,  the  "  London  Examiner," 


436  LITERATURE    OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

Bishop  Potter,  Baron  Frederick  Yon  Raumer,  of  Prussia,  unite  in  its  praise. 
Thomas  Campbell,  author  of  "  The  Pleasures  of  Hope,"  says  of  it,  "  Mr.  Gris- 
wold's  work  is  honorable  to  the  character  and  genius  of  the  American  people." 
"  The  Knickerbocker"  and  "  North  American  Review"  noticed  the  sixteenth 
edition  in  1855,  with  the  highest  commendations.  "The  Prose  Writers  of 
America."  1846.  8vo.  Fourth  edition,  1852.  Such  scholars  as  William  H. 
Prcscott,  William  C.  Bryant,  H.  B.  Wallace,  "  The  Knickerbocker,"  H.  T. 
Tuckerman,  commend  this  work  in  the  highest  terms.  "  The  Female  Poets 
of  America."  1848.  8vo.  Reached  its  fifth  edition  in  1856.  "The  Prose 
Works  of  John  Milton,  with  an  Initial  Memoir."  1855.  2  vols.  8vo. 
"  AVashington  and  the  Generals  of  the  American  Revolution."  1847.  2  vols. 
"  Napoleon  and  the  Marshals  of  the  Empire."  184  7.  2  vols.  "  Scenes  in  the 
Life  of  the  Saviour,  by  the  Poets  and  Painters."  Edited.  "  The  Sacred 
Poets  of  England  and  America."  1849.  Edited.  "The  Poets  and  Poetry 
of  England  in  the  Nineteenth  Century."  1845.  8vo.  Fourth  edition,  1854. 
"  The  Works  of  Edgar  A.  Poe  :  Poems,  Tales,  and  Miscellanies  ;  with  a 
Memoir,  by  R.  W.  Griswold."  "  The  Republican  Court ;  or,  American  So- 
ciety in  the  Days  of  Washington."  This  last  was  "  sumptuously  printed  and 
richly  illustrated,"  and  called  forth  the  highest  admiration. 

Thomas  Curtis  was  an  accomplished  literary  laborer.  In  England,  Dr. 
Curtis  was  the  original  editor  of  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Metropolitana,"  and  the 
editor  of  the  "  London  Encyclopaedia,"  throughout.  After  his  settlement  in 
the  South,  he  published  occasional  sermons,  a  course  of  "  Lectures  on  the 
Poetry  of  the  Bible,"  "  Lectures  on  Bible  Episcopacy,"  an  address  on  edu- 
cation, and  a  volume  of  poems.  He  left  several  volumes  yet  unpublished, 
and  among  his  last  writings  are  "  Notes  of  a  Plan  for  the  Emancipation  of  the 
Slaves,"  which  he  offered  to  advocate  in  the  South,  if  others  would  in  the 
North.  As  early  as  1858,  he  wrote  :  "  Without  this,  a  civil  war  will  ensue,  — 
a  civil  war  for  slavery." 

William  R.  Williams  is  a  fruitful  writer  of  essays,  reviews,  addresses, 
and  sermons,  properly  belonging  to  this  class.  His  volume  of"  Miscellanies" 
is  one  of  the  richest  contributions  to  elegant  literature.  His  sermons  are 
often  rare  gems  of  literary  beauty. 

John  O.  Ciioules  edited  "  Christian  Offering,"  and  other  works,  and  was 
the  writer  of  many  literary  articles. 

Barnas  Sears  edited  Roget's  "  Thesaurus  of  English  Words,"  with  addi- 
tions, which  may  as  well  be  classed  here.  Also,  in  connection  with  Profs. 
Edwards  and  Felton,  translated  "Ancient  Literature  and  Art  :  Essays  and 
Letters  from  Eminent  Philologists." 

W.  S.  Chase  edited  "  Modern  French  Literature,  with  Notes." 

Jeremiah  Chaplin.    "  The  Evening  of  Life."    "  The  Memorial  Hour." 

G.  W.  Hervey.  "  Christian  Courtesy."  "  Rhetoric  of  Conversation." 
Published  by  the  Harpers,  republished  in  London. 

Kazlitt  Arvine's  "  Cyclopaedia  of  Anecdotes  of  Literature  and  the  Fine 
Arts"  is'also  an  aid  to  elegant  literature. 

J.  D.  Chaplin  edited  "  The  Riches  of  Bunyan,"  a  selection  of  rare 
gems. 

J.  Clement's  "Noble  Deeds  of  American  Women"  may  also  be  classed 
here. 


LITERATURE    OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  437 

E.  L.  Magoon.  "  The  Eloquence  of  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
Times."     184  7. 

R.  W.  Cushmax.     "  Pure  Christianity  the  World's  Only  Hope."     1845. 

5.  Poetry  and  Music.  Enough  has  been  done  in  this 
department  to  show  that  the  Muses  are  not  strangers  to  us. 
As  a  lyric  poet,  the  name  of 

S.  F.  Smith  is  well  known  as  the  writer  of  some  of  the  most  popular  lyrics 
and  odes  in  the  language.     The  national  ode, 

"My  country,  'tis  of  thee," 
is  one  of  the  most  popular  patriotic  songs  in  the  English  tongue.     The  fu- 
neral hymn, 

11  Sister,  thou  wast  mild  and  lovely," 

has  often  soothed  the  hearts  of  pious  mourners  on  the  death  of  some  young 
Christian  female  ;  and  his 

"  Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee," 

has  called  forth  many  tears  of  tender,  solemn  joy  at  the  departure  of  mission- 
aries to  a  foreign  land  ;  and  his  soul-awakening  hymn, 

"  The  morning  light  is  breaking," 

is  not  excelled,  in  lyric  force  and  the  power  to  awaken  holy  emotion  in  be- 
half of  the  world's  conversion,  by  any  hymn  in  the  language.  Dr.  Smith, 
in  connection  with  Dr.  Stow,  compiled  "The  Psalmist,"  which  has  had  a 
larger  sale,  perhaps,  than  any  other  collection  of  hymns.  He  has  also  pub- 
lished a  volume  entitled  "  Lyric  Gems,"  —  the  title  given  by  the  bookseller. 
He  likewise  translated  from  the  German  the  larger  part  of  the  hymns  and 
songs  in  the  "  Juvenile  Lyre,"  —  a  song-book  for  children.  Original  hymns 
from  his  pen  are  adopted  in  the  hymn-books  of  most  of  the  Christian  denom- 
inations. 

Sidney  Dyer  is  a  prolific  writer  of  songs  and  ballads.  Among  his  pro- 
ductions are  "  Voices  of  Nature,"  "  Thoughts  in  Rhyme,"  "  Songs  and  Bal- 
lads," "  Ruth :  a  Cantata,  in  two  parts,"  "  Olio  of  Love  and  Song,"  "  The 
Drunkard's  Child,"  "  The  Two  Apprentices,"  "  The  Winter  Evening,"  &c. 
Mr.  Dyer  has  published  more  songs,  in  the  form  of  "  sheet  music,"  than  per- 
haps any  other  man  in  the  country. 

Of  those  who  have  published  volumes  of  poetry,  are 

J.  Newton  Brown.  "  Emily,  and  other  Poems."  pp.  296.  "  The  Apoc- 
alypse :  a  Commencement  Poem."     1856. 

S.  Drydex  Phelps.  ''Eloquence  of  Nature,  and  other  Poems."  1842. 
pp.  168.  12mo.  "  Sunlight  and  Hearthlight ;  or,  Fidelity,  and  other  Poems." 
1856.    pp.  252.    12mo. 

Emily  C.  Judson  published  "  The  Olio,  or  Domestic  Poems."  1852. 
12mo.  She  was  also  t'  e  author  of  many  small  pieces  of  poetry,  which  were 
first  printed  in  magazines,  and  afterwards  published  in  the  two  volumes  of 
"  Alderbrook."     Some  of  her  pieces  are  very  touching  and  beautiful. 


438  LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

William  C.  Richards.     "Electron  :  a  Telegraphic  Epic." 

Richard  Furman.  "  Pleasures  of  Piety,  and  other  Poems."  1859. 
pp.  220. 

Thomas  Curtis.     "  Anastasis,  and  other  Poems." 

A.  C.  Kendrick.  "  Echoes  :  Translations  from  German  and  French 
Poets." 

Mrs.  A.  M.  C.  Edmoxd.     "  The  Broken  Vow,  and  other  Poems." 

William  B.  Bradbury  is  a  distinguished  musical  writer,  teacher,  and 
composer.  He  has  prepared  and  published  the  following  works :  "  The 
Young  Choir,"  1841;  "School  Singer,"  1843;  "Flora's  Festival,"  1845; 
"  Young  Melodist ;  "  "  Musical  Gems  ;  "  "  Sabbath-School  Melodies;"  "  Young 
Shawm,"  1855;  "  Psalmodist ;  "  "Choralist;"  "  Mendelssohn  Collection  ;  " 
*'  Psalmata,  or  Choir  Melodies;"  "The  Shawm,"  1854;  "  Social  Singing- 
Book  ;  "  "  Alpine  Glee-Book ; "  "  Metropolitan  Glee-Book."  He  is  editor  of 
the  "New  York  Musical  Review,"  and  contributes  to  various  journals. 

Charles  Thurber  published  "  Memorials  of  the  Heart;"  also,  "  Chem- 
istry in  Rhymes  :  a  Book  for  Children." 

6.  Fiction,  A  few  writers  among  us  have  employed 
their  pens  in  this  department,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining 
hetter  attention  to  some  moral  or  religious  truth.  Among 
them  are  :  — 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Judson  ("Fanny  Forester").  Among  her  earlier  produc- 
tions are  "  Charles  Linn  ;  or,  How  to  Observe ; "  "  The  Great  Secret ;  or, 
How  to  be  Happy ;  "  "  Allen  Lucas ;  or,  The  Self-Made  Man  ;  "  "  Trippings 
in  Author  Land."  "  Alderbrook,"  in  2  vols.  1846,  consisting  of  tales,  sketches, 
and  poems,  published  in  the  "  New  York  Mirror,"  was  so  popular  that  33,000 
volumes  had  been  sold  in  1853. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Denison.  "  Home  Pictures."  "  What  Not  ?"  "  Carrie 
Hamilton."  "  Gracie  Amber."  "  Old  Hepsy  :  a  Tale  of  the  South."  She 
has  contributed  extensively  to  many  periodicals. 

Mrs.  Jane  D.  Chaplin.  "  The  Convent  and  the  Manse."  "  Green 
Leaves  from  Oakwood."  Mrs.  C.  has  also  contributed  sketches  and  tales,  in 
great  numbers,  to  our  periodical  literature. 

Mrs.  J e annie  Dowling  De  Witt.  "  Kate  Weston  ;  or,  To  Will  and  to 
Do."  12mo.  pp.  500.  "The  Story  of  the  Adder;  or,  The  History  of  the 
Stanley  Family." 

Mrs.  S.  R.  Ford.  "  Grace  Truman ;  or,  Love  and  Principle."  "  Mary 
Bunyan  :  a  Talc  of  Religious  Persecution." 

Mrs.  Cornelia  H.  B.Richards  ("  Mrs.  Manners").  "Aspiration: 
an  Autobiography  of  Girlhood."     1854.     "At  Home  and  Abroad,"  &c.  &0. 

Joseph  Banvard.     "  Priscilla  ;  or,  Trials  for  Religious  Liberty." 

A.  C.  Dayton.     "Theodosia;  or,  The  Heroine  of  Faith." 

PHARCELLUS  Church.  "  Mapleton  ;  or,  More  Work  for  the  Maine 
Law."     12mo.     1854. 

Geo.  T.  Carleton.     "  The  Unique."     1844. 

Mrs.  Eliza  T.  P.  Smith.     "  The  Little  Republic." 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  439 

7.  School-Books.  Besides  the  classical  and  critical  text- 
books already  noticed,  school-books  for  common  schools  have 
been  prepared. 

Samuel  S.  Greene  published  "The  Analysis  of  Sentences;"  "First 
Lessons  in  Grammar;"  "The  Elements  of  English  Grammar."  The  series, 
as  now  published,  stands  thus  :  "  The  Introduction  ;"  "  The  Analysis;"  "  The 
English  Grammar."     Half  a  million  or  more  sold. 

Charles  W.  Sanders.  "  Spelling-Book  ;  "  and  "  Reader,"  First  and 
Second. 

C.  W.  Bradbury  published  "  First  Lessons  in  English  Grammar,  with  a 
New  and  Comprehensive  Arrangement." 

8.  Biography.     Authors  of  this  class  are  :  — 

William  Gammell.  "  Life  of  Governor  Ward,  of  Rhode  Island."  "  Life 
of  Roger  Williams."  pp.220.  1845.  In  Sparks's  "American  Biography," 
vol.  4,  2d  series. 

Rufus  W.  Griswold.  "  Biographical  Annual."  1842.  "  Memoir  of  Ed- 
gar A.  Poe."  So  the  biographical  parts  of  "Poets"  and  "Prose  Writers  of 
America,"  "Female  Poets,"  "  Washington  and  the  Generals  of  the  Revolu- 
tion," and  "  The  Republican  Court,"  are  among  the  most  valuable  portions 
of  general  biography. 

John  M.  Peck.  "  Life  of  Daniel  Boone."  In  Sparks's  "American  Biog- 
raphy." 

9.  Miscellaneous.  The  classification  has  been  made  so 
literal  that  few  books  remain  to  this  class,  though  many- 
might  be  noticed,  as 

"  The  Philosophy  of  the  Imponderables,"  by  George  Brewster  ;  "  Pe- 
ter Schlemihl  in  America,"  and  "  Modern  Pilgrims,"  by  George  Wood  ; 
"  Light  or  Morning,"  by  David  Bernard  ;  &c.  &c. 


PAMPHLETS. 

These  are  abundant  and  various.  Many  pamphlets  have 
only  a  local  or  temporary  purpose,  yet  they  are  valuable  as  the 
materials  of  literary  history.  They  are  on  all  subjects,  in  all 
varieties  of*  style,  manner,  and  form  :  sermons,  orations,  ad- 
dresses, essays,  and  reviews.  They  are  didactic,  polemic, 
historical,  biographical,  critical,  apologetic,  retractive,  and 
hortatory,  in  prose  and  poetry,  and  their  name  is  legion.  Of 
course,  no  attempt  to  present  a  complete  list  or  classification 
will  be  made ;  yet,  a  fair  view  of  our  literature  requires  that 


440  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

they  receive  some  attention.  Much  of  what  was  formerly 
published  in  pamphlets  is  now  given  to  the  public  in  maga- 
zines, reviews,  and  newspapers. 

Our  pamphlet  literature  may  be  grouped  in  a  loose  and 
general  way  under  the  heads  of:  I.  Sermons;  II.  Addresses. 
or  Inaugurals  by  professors  and  presidents  of  institutions 
of  learning,  Orations,  Speeches,  &c. ;  III.  Scientific  Pam- 
phlets ;  IV.  Historical  Pamphlets,  not  sermons  ;  V. 
Apologetic  ;  VI.  Controversial ;  and  VII.  Miscellaneous 
Pamphlets. 

I.  Sermons. 

Great  numbers  of  sermons  have  been  published  by  our 
ministers  in  the  last  fifty  years,  some  in  pamphlets,  some  in 
the  "  National  Preacher,"  some  in  the  "  Baptist  Preacher," 
the  "  Southern  Baptist  Preacher,"  the  "  Western  Baptist 
Preacher,"  and  other  similar  periodicals,  some  in  the  minutes 
of  associations  and  conventions,  in  magazines,  and  newspa- 
pers. The  publication  of  many  of  them  was  called  for  by 
circumstances  apart  from  the  permanent  or  literary  value  of 
the  sermons  themselves,  which  having  passed  away,  the  in- 
terest in  the  sermons  has  passed  away  also. 

Among  those  who  have  issued  sermons  in  print,  the  venerable  Baldwin 
stands  first.  Nearly  forty  of  his  sermons  were  published.  His  General  Elec- 
tion Sermon,  before  the  Massachusetts  Legislature,  in  1802,  was  received 
with  uncommon  favor,  as  was  indicated  by  the  fact  that  it  passed  through 
three  editions.  More  than  half  his  printed  sermons  were  issued  before 
1814. 

The  name  of  the  eloquent  pastor  of  the  Charles  Street  Church,  Boston, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Sharp,  stands  next  in  order.  He  preached  the  Election 
Sermon  in  1824,  and  the  Funeral  Sermon  of  Gov.  Eustis  the  same  year. 
Twenty  or  more  of  his  sermons  were  published  in  pamphlet  form,  besides 
others  in  various  periodicals,  some  of  which  went  through  several  editions. 

Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Waylaxd  has  published  twenty  or  more  sermons 
in  pamphlet  form,  besides  his  volumes  of  sermons  noticed  under  that 
head.  His  sermons  are  always  received  with  strong  marks  of  favor  by  the 
public. 

Rev.  Dr.  William  II.  Williams  has  issued  many  sermons  in  pamphlet 
form,  besides  several  volumes,  originally  sermons,  which  have  taken  a  perma- 
nent place  in  the  elegant  literature  of  our  country.  The  names  of  others,  as 
Staugiiton,  Brantly,  G.  F.  Davis,  C.  Train,  Bolles,  Stow,  Hague, 


LITERATURE    OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  441 

Ide,  Fuller,  will  be  remembered  as  able  preachers,  and  as  the  authors  of 
printed  sermons,  on  a  variety  of  topics,  which  may  be  classed  thus :  — 

1.  Associational,  or  Convention  Sermons. 

W.  Collier,  before  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  1816  ;  John  Williams, 
before  New  York  Missionary  Society ;  T.  Baldwin,  before  Baptist  General 
Convention,  Philadelphia,  181  7  ;  Stephen  Chapin,  before  Maine  Baptist 
Education  Society,  1820;  before  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  1841;  D. 
Benedict,  before  Warren  Association,  1821  ;  L.  Bolles,  before  Boston  As- 
sociation, 1822;  R.  Babcock,  on  Claims  of  Educational  Societies,  1829;  B. 
Stow,  before  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  "  Efficiency  of  Primitive 
Missions;"  G.  B.  Ide,  "The  Moral  Elevation  of  the  Church  essential  to 
Missionary  Success;"  Bradley  Miner,  on  "  Preaching  to  the  Conscience," 
before  Boston  Association  ;  J.  N.  Murdoch,  "A  Ministry  approved  unto 
God,"  before  Connecticut  Baptist  Education  Society,  1857  ;  J.  B.Taylor, 
before  American  Sunday-School  Union,  1856;  John  Willis,  before  New 
York  Missionary  Society.  These  are  but  samples  of  such  as  can  be  remem- 
bered. » 

2.  Ordination  and  Installation  Sermons. 

T.  Baldwin,  of  David  Leonard,  1794;  of  W.  Collier,  1799;  of  Elisha 
Andrews,  1800  ;  of  John  Peak,  1802  ;  of  Elisha  Williams,  1803  ;  of  J.  Chap- 
lin, 1804  ;  of  D.  Merrill,  1805  ;  of  James  M.  Winchell ;  L.  Bolles,  at  New- 
port, 1818;  J.  Chaplin,  of  Stephen  Chapin,  1819;  of  A.  King,  1826;  of 
George  D.  Boardman,  1828;  W.  Collier,  of  G.  W.  Appleton,  1819;  Ste- 
phen Gano,  of  Peter  Ludlow,  1823  ;  C.  Train,  1823  ;  S.  Chapin,  1822; 
Irah  Chase,  of  J.  D.  Knowles,  1826;  Elisha  Tucker,  1826;  J.  Gil- 
patrick,  of  W.  C.  Rider,  1830;   Silas  Hall,  1831;  A.  Fisher,  of  J. 

Alden,  1833 ;  F.  Wayland,  of  W.  Hague;  T.  F.  Curtis,  of Foster, 

1853. 

8.  Dedications,  and  Constitution  of  Churches. 

Elisha  Andrews,  Belchertown,  Mass.,  1814  ;  T.  Baldwin,  Bellingham, 
1802;  Boston,  1811  ;  Cambridge,  1817;  Silas  Stearns,  Bath,  Me.,  1816; 
Charles  Train,  Framingham,  1827  ;  C.  P.  Grosvenor,  1829  ;  S.  P.  Hill, 
Haverhill,  1833  ;  W.  Hague,  Boston,  1839  ;  W.  T.  Brantly,  dedication  of 
Baptist  Church,  Augusta,  Ga.,  1821. 

4.    Commemorative  Sermons. 

T.  Baldwin,  of  George  Washington,  1799  ;  W.  Staughton,  of  Dr.  B. 
Rush,  1813;  of  S.  Jones,  D.  D.,  1814;  Jesse  Mercp:r,  of  Gov.  Robins, 
1819  ;  S.  Chapin,  of  Luther  Rice,  1822  ;  Bi-centennial,  1822  ;  J.  Barnaby, 

of  Gov.  Eustis,  1828  ;  William  Parkinson,  of Holmes,  1832  ;  J.  Gil- 

PATRICK,  of  I).  Merrill,  1833;  J.  O.  Choules,  Thanksgiving,  1829;  of  D. 
Webster,  1852;  R,  Babcock,  of  Geo.  Leonard;  R.  E.  Pattison,  of  J. 
Chaplin,  1843;  D.  Sharp,  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  1847;  J.  T.  Champlin,  of  W. 
H.  Harrison,  1841  ;  S.  F.  Smith,  do.,  1841;  R.  Turnbull,  on  Chalmers 
and  Vinet,  1847;  W.  Hague,  of  J.  Q.  Adams,  1848;  of  A.  Judson,  1851 ; 
56 


4^2  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

of  J.  O.  Choules,  1856;  J.  S.  Maginnis,  of  N.  Kendrick,  1849;  J.  N. 
Granger,  of  S.  B.  Mumford,  1849  ;  T.  D.  Anderson,  of  President  Taylor, 
1850;  J.  N.  Murdock,  do.,  1850;  A.  C.  Kkndrick,  of  Abel  Woods,  1851 ; 
E.  H.  Gray,  of  A.  Judson;  Henry  Jackson,  of  E.  Nelson,  1852;  G.  W. 
Samson,  of  D.  Webster,  1852. 

5.  Historical  Sermons, 

James  M.  Winchell,  two  sermons,  History  of  First  Baptist  Church,  Bos- 
ton, 1819  ;  T.  Baldwin,  1824  ;  Joseph  Grafton,  1830  ;  J.  O.  Choules, 
1830;  B.  Manly,  History  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  Baptist  Church,  1837;  W. 
Hague,  Second  Centennial  of  First  Baptist  Church,  Providence,  1839;  A. 
Bennett,  History  of  Baptist  Church,  Homer,  N.  Y.,  1842;  T.  C.  Teas- 
dale,  Baptist  Church,  New  Haven,  1842;  T.  Curtis,  on  the  Founding  of 
Baptist  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C,  1842;  B.  Stow,  Centennial,  1843  ;  J.  W. 
Parkhuhst,  History  of  Baptist  Church,  Dedham,  1846;  H.  C.  Fish,  Semi- 
centennial, 1851  ;  H.  Jackson,  Historical  Description  of  Central  Church, 
Newport,  1854  ;  R.  Turnbull,  Historical  Discourse  on  First  Baptist  Church, 
Hartford. 

6.  Funeral  Sermons, 

W.  T.  Brantly,  of  L.  D.  Banks,  August,  1823  ;  Lenitives  of  Sorrow, 
Beaufort,  S.  C,  1828  ;  T.  Baldwin,  of  Dr.  Stillman,  1807  ;  of  Mrs.  Collier, 
1813  ;  of  J.  M.  Winchell,  1820  ;  S.  Chapin,  of  O.  Wilson,  1824  ;  W.  Bowen, 
1828  ;  E.  W.  Freeman,  on  Mrs.  Graves,  1833;  S.  F.  Smith,  of  B.  Miner, 
1854;  E.  B.  Smith,  on  D.  O.Morton,  1852;  F.  Wayland,  on  Mrs.  Caswell, 
1850  ;  C.  Willett,  on  Capt.  McLean,  1851  ;  T.  Armitagk,  on  Dr.  Cone, 
1855;  J.  N.  Murdock,  on  Hon.  Silas  Wright;  on  Mrs.  Williams,  1857  ;  C. 
G.  Fairbanks,  on  Deacon  Foster,  1860;  J.  Duncan,  for  Mrs.  Kent,  1862. 

7-    Occasional. 

R.  Furman,  Communion  essential  to  Salvation,  1816;  T.  Baldwin,  on 
Lord's  Day  after  Execution  of  Pirates,  1819  ;  on  the  Duty  of  Parents,  1822  ; 
E.  Cushman,  Election  Sermon,  1820;  on  Christian  Fortitude;  Clark 
Kendrick,  before  Legislature  of  North  Carolina;  Stephen  Gano,  on  the 
Divinity  of  Christ,  1827  ;  G.  F.  Davis,  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1828  ;  a  Tem- 
perance Sermon,  1831  ;  J.  Bahnaby,  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1825  ;  F.  Way- 
land,  Fast.  Day  Sermon,  1828;  T.  B.  Ripley,  a  Sermon  at  Portland,  Me., 
1828;  W.  T.  Brantly,  a  Sermon  on  the  Trinity,  1824;  Duty  of  publicly 
dedicating  Children  to  the  Lord,  1824;  Testimony  of  Enemies  to  Religion, 
1824;  J.  E.  Wkston,  Claims  of  the  Poor,  1830;  C.  P.  GROSVENOR,  two  ser- 
mons, on  National  Blessings  and  on  Infidelity,  1829;  Alerkd  Bknxitt, 
The  Kingdom  of  Christ  distinguished  from  the  Kingdom  of  Caesar,  1830;  II. 
Fittz,  Obedience  the  Test  of  I  >isripleship,  1834;  J.  T.  IIinton,  two  ser- 
mons on  the  Spirit's  Operations,  1832;  on  the  Alton  Riots,  1 S ;i 7  ;  JOHH 
Tripp,  on  the  Inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,  on  the  Perseverance  of  the 
Saints,  on  the  Two  Witnesses,  and  several  other  sermons;  Irah  CHASE, 
on  Anger,  1*22;  B.  S  row,  Thanksgiving,  1837;  Spiritual  Power,  1852 ;  A. 
Kallocii,  Fast  Day,  1849;  D.  Sharp,  do.,  1822,  1842,  1846;  L.  Tracy, 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  44,3 

Farewell  to  Boylston,  1848;  E.  L.  Magoon,  before  North  Carolina  Legisla- 
ture, 1843  ;  R.  H.  Neale,  the  Burning  Bush  ;  the  Incarnation  ;  W.  Hague, 
True  Charity;  D.  D.  Pratt,  on  Voluntary  Associations;  J.N.  Murdoch, 
Signs  of  the  Times,  1859;  Peacemakers  and  Peacemaking,  1856;  Building 
the  Tombs  of  the  Prophets,  1859  ;  the  Basis  and  Ends  of  Civil  Government, 
1859  ;  the  Causes  and  Issues  of  our  Civil  War,  1862;  R.  B.  C.  Howell,  the 
Divine  Care  of  the  Church,  181.'};  H.  C.  Fish,  Characteristics  of  Successful 
Benevolent  Effort,  1848 ;  on  Sumner  and  Kansas,  1856  ;  J.  N.  Granger, 
a  sermon,  1847;  M.  Sanford,  the  Ocean,  1851  ;  W.  Dean,  Thanksgiving, 
1857  ;  Ministerial  Sources  of  Support,  1859  ;  P.  Church,  Permanence  of  the 
Pastoral  Relation,  A  Passion  for  Souls,  and  other  sermons ;  J.  \V.  Olm- 
stead,  the  Ominous  Future,  1844  ;  R.  W.  Cushman,  Calm  Review  of  the 
Religious  Awakening  in  Boston,  1842;  S.  L.  Caldwell,  to  the  Volunteers, 
1861;  J.  H.  Gilmore,  a  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  1863;  A.  Pollard,  on 
Justification  by  Faith,  1863  ;  H.  G.  Weston,  on  National  Fast,  1861  ;  J.  C. 
Stockbridge,  two  discourses,  1856  ;  D.  C.  Eddy,  Political  Rights  of  Min- 
isters, 1854  ;  N.  Wood,  Modern  Spiritualism. 

8.  Miscellaneous  Sermons,  some  of  which  are  classed 
here  because  the  subjects  of  them  are  unknown  to  me. 

Missionary  sermons  in  great  numbers  have  been  published  by  Messrs.  J. 
Parkhurst,  Sharp,  Wayland,  Brantly,  Furman,  Williams,  Ful- 
ler, Chapin,  Stow,  Brown,  Granger,  Ide,  Welch,  Dowling,  War- 
ren, and  many  others. 

Of  sermons  on  baptism  the  number  to  be  found  is  very  few.  T.  Pink- 
ham  published  one  in  1839,  being  a  Retraction  of  Pedo-Baptism  ;  W.  T. 
Brantly,  "  The  Covenant  of  Circumcision  no  Just  Plea  for  Infant  Bap- 
tism." Many  sermons  have  been  printed  in  the  religious  and  secular  news- 
papers. 

II.   Addresses,  or  Inaugurals. 

Wm.  Staughton,  as  President  of  Columbian  College,  1822  ;  S.  Chapin, 
as  Professor  in  Waterville  College,  1826  ;  as  President  of  Columbian  College, 
1829  ;  Joel  S.  Bacon,  President  of  Georgetown  College,  1830;  James  D. 
Knowlks,  as  Professor  at  Newton,  1832  ;  R  Babcock,  President  of  Water- 
ville College,  1834;  Alva  Woods,  President  of  Transylvania  University  ; 
J.  S.  Magixnis,  Professor  at  Hamilton,  1839  ;  J.  Upham,  at  New  Hampton, 
1846  ;  A.  Hovey,  at  Newton,  1854  ;  J.  G.  Binney,  President  of  Columbian 
College,  1855  ;  M.  B.  Anderson,  President  of  Rochester  University,  1854  ; 
P.  B.  Spear,  Professor  at  Hamilton  ;  Stephen  W.  Taylor,  as  President 
of  Madison  University;  E.  S.  Gallup,  Professor  at  Hamilton,  &c.  &c. 

Several  Baccalaureate  Addresses  by  Messrs.  Wayland,  Woods,  Mal- 
com,  Pattison,  Bacon,  Chapin,  Samson,  and  others,  have  been  published. 

Of  Orations  on  public  occasions,  Charles  Train  has  published  four  or 
five;  J.  D.  Knowi.es  and  B.  Stow,  several  each;  F.  Wayland,  several, 
on  literary,  scientific,  and  philanthropic  subjects.  E.  Cushman,  Z.  L. 
Leonard,  S.  L.  Caldwell,  Isaac  Davis,  A.  Caswell,  and  J.  A. 
Bolles,  have  published  addresses. 


444*  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

Scientific  and  Historical  pamphlets  have  been  issued,  but 
they  are  of  little  or  no  permanent  value,  because  whatever 
they  may  contain  that  is  new  or  valuable  is  taken  up  into  the 
more  permanent  book  literature. 

Many  Apologetic  pamphlets  have  been  issued,  such  as  :  — 

Letters  of  W.  F.  Broaddus  and  Slicer,  1836  ;  J.  L.  Dagg,  in  De- 
fence of  Strict  Communion,  1845  ;  W.  H.  Turton's  Baptist  Position  De- 
fended, 1844  ;  R.  Furman,  Review  of  A.  B.  Smith,  1845  ;  H.J.  Ripley  and 
J.  W.  Smith,  Replies  to  Albert  Barnes,  on  "  Exclusiveism,"  1855  ;  &c.  &c. 

Controversial  pamphlets  have  been  issued  by 
Baldwin,  Chapin,  Chase,   J.  Winter,  E.  Foster,  R.  F.  Middle- 
ditch,  E.  Worth,  W.  Parkinson,  Crawford,  Kilpatrick,  &c. 

A  large  number  of  Miscellaneous  Pamphlets  have  been 

issued. 

Joshua  Bradley,  on  Revivals  and  on  Freemasonry;  Solomon  Drown, 
in  Behalf  of  the  Greeks,  1824;  Isaac  Davis,  Report  of  the  Committee  of 
Examination  at  West  Point,  in  1832  and  1854,  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of 
War;  John  Leland,  the  Jarring  Interests  of  Heaven  reconciled  by  the 
Blood  of  the  Cross,  and  Some  Events  in  his  own  Life;  J.  A.  Bolles,  a  Prize 
Essay  on  a  Congress  of  Nations ;  Wm.  Gammell,  Sketch  of  the  Benefac- 
tions of  Nicholas  Brown  ;  Brief  Notice  of  the  late  Commodore  Charles  Morris, 
1855  ;  S.  Adlam,  The  First  Church,  in  Providence,  not  the  Oldest  Baptist 
Church  in  America,  1853  ;  J.  R.  Bliss,  Place  of  the  Baptists  in  Protestant 
Christendom  ;  J.  Dowling,  The  Old-Fashioned  Bible  ;  W.  Parkinson,  The 
Romish  Antichrist  ;  Wm.  Crowell,  Advantages  of  the  Baptist  Church 
Polity,  1845  ;  Report  on  Separate  Schools  for  Colored  Children  in  Boston, 
for  the  School  Committee,  1847;  Six  Letters,  &c,  1855;  Exegesis  on  John 
iii.  5,  1856  ;  Thoughts  on  the  Benevolent  Organizations  Proper  for  the  King- 
dom of  Christ,  1858;  H.  B.  Hackett,  Speech  on  Bible  Revision  ;  Address  at 
the  Consecration  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  the  Newton  Cemetery,  1864  ; 
&c.  &c. 

PERIODICALS. 

The  most  remarkable  growth  of  our  half-century  literature 
is  in  our  periodical  issues,  weekly,  monthly,  and  quarterly. 
When  our  fathers  inaugurated  the  Foreign  Mission  enter- 
prise, fifty  years  ago,  they  had  one  periodical  in  all  America, 
"  Tin;  Massachusetts  Baptist  Missionary  Magazine.'' 
It  was  issued  once  in  three  months,  each  number  containing 
thirty-two  pages,  making  a  volume  of  nearly  four  hundred 
pages  in  three    years,  or  one  hundred  and   thirty  pages  a 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS.  445 

year.  This  was  the  sum  total  of  our  periodical  literature 
in  1814*.  From  that  small  beginning",  —  the  first  number 
of  the  Magazine  was  issued  in  September,  1803,  —  our  peri- 
odical literature  has  grown,  during  the  half-century  of  our 
missionary  life,  to  its  present  giant  proportions.  It  is  one  of 
the  marvels  of  the  age.  It  is  peculiarly  an  American  growth, 
the  most  characteristic  fruit  of  the  tree  planted  by  Roger 
Williams.  It  is  a  power  before  which  State  intolerance, 
priestly  rule,  persecution  for  conscience'  sake,  Popery  in  any 
of  its  thousand  forms,  cannot  stand.  Stronger  than  armies, 
or  than  any  political  society,  the  religious  press  can  put  down 
any  power  that  dares  to  array  itself  against  the  rights  or  the 
liberties  of  the  people. 

The  leading  facts  in  the  history  of  the  Magazine  have  already  been  noted. 

Quarterly. 

"  The  Christian  Review*'  was  commenced  in  1836,  as  a  literary  and  re- 
ligious quarterly.  Each  issue  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages  or  more, 
making  an  annual  volume  of  upwards  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  pages.  Its 
first  editor  was  Prof.  J.  D.  Knowles.  At  his  sudden  death,  while  the  second 
number  of  the  third  volume  was  partly  in  type,  B.  Sears  became  its  editor, 
which  he  continued  to  be  till  the  end  of  volume  sixth.  He  was  succeeded  by 
S.  F.  Smith,  who  was  its  editor  to  the  end  of  volume  thirteen.  E.  G.  Sears 
edited  the  fourteenth  volume  ;  then  S.  S.  Cutting,  assisted  by  several  breth- 
ren, to  the  end  of  volume  seventeen  ;  then  R.  Turnbull  and  J.  N.  Murdock 
to  the  end  of  volume  twentieth.  J.  J.  AVoolsey  conducted  the  work  through 
its  twenty-first  volume.  Franklin  Wilson  and  G.  B.  Taylor  were  its  editors 
to  the  end  of  the  twenty-fourth  volume,  and  E.  G.  Robinson  to  the  end  of 
the  twenty-eighth  volume,  or  to  the  close  of  1863,  at  which  time  its  distinct 
issues  were  suspended,  and  it  was  merged  in  the  "  Bibliotheca  Sacra,"  of 
which  B.  Sears  is  one  of  the  editors. 

"  The  Review  "  has  maintained  a  highly  respectable  position  among  the  lit- 
erary and  theological  quarterlies  of  the  day.  It  has  been  an  able  exponent 
of  Baptist  principles,  though  catholic  in  its  tone.  It  has  added  some  eighteen 
thousand  pages  to  the  permanent  literature  of  American  Baptists  during  the 
twenty-eight  years  of  its  existence.  The  suspension  of  its  issues  will,  no 
doubt,  be  temporary,  for  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  Baptists  of  America 
will  consent  to  give  up  so  important  a  medium  of  influence. 

As  to  the  writers  who  have  created  this  amount  of  literature,  I  have  found 
it  impossible  to  obtain  a  complete  account.  "The  Review"  has  received  the 
aid  of  the  literary  labors  of  our  best  scholars,  as  well  as  that  of  others,  not 
Baptists.  S.  F.  Smith,  who  was  its  editor  during  a  longer  period  than  any 
other  man,  and  who  has  been  a  constant  contributor  to  it,  has  written  for  it 


446  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

about  sixty  articles,  making  thirteen  hundred  and  eighty  pages,  besides  nearly 
all  the  literary  notices  during  his  editorship.  B.  Sears  has  contributed  about 
five  hundred  pages.  F.  Wayland  has  been  a  large  contributor,  especially  to 
its  earlier  volumes.  A.  C.  Keudrick  has  contributed  three  hundred  pages, 
or  more  ;  A.  N.  Arnold,  about  two  hundred  pages.  II.  B.  Haekett,  S.  Bai- 
ley, D.  C.  Havnes,  M.  B.  Anderson,  A.  Hovey,  J.  T.  Champlin,  R.  Bab- 
cock,  R.  A.  Coffin,  T.  F.  Curtis,  W.  Gammell,  H.  J.  Ripley,  W.  R.  Wil- 
liams, J.  S.  Maginnis,  I.  Chase,  W.  Hague,  J.  M.  Peck,  H.  Lincoln,  V.  R. 
Hotchkiss,  G.  D.  Boardman,  J.  R.  Loomis,  J.  H.  Raymond,  S.  L.  Caldwell, 
H.  W.  Richardson,  R.  E.  Pattison,  have  contributed  several  articles  each, 
of  from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages ;  W.  Crowell  seven  ar- 
ticles, making  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages.  S.  S.  Cutting,  E.  G.  Robinson, 
R.  Turnbull,  J.  N.  Murdock,  F.  Wilson,  and  G.  B.  Taylor  were  frequent 
contributors  while  acting  as  editors.  The  names  of  G.  W.  Samson,  O.  S. 
Stearns,  W.  Ashmore,  S.  Talbot,  E.  B.  Cross,  E.  L.  Magoon,  R  C.  Mills,  L. 
Moss,  H.  C.  Fish,  G.  S.  Chace,  G.  R.  Bliss,  S.  R.  Mason,  O.  Howes,  W.  C. 
Child,  Hon.  R.  Fletcher,  Hon.  S.  G.  Arnold,  J.  A.  Bolles,  Esq.,  J.  Belcher, 
F.  Bosworth,  C.  B.  Davis,  G.  W.  Eaton,  J.  Dowling,  S.  P.  Hill,  E.  W.  Dick- 
inson, F.  Mason,  S.  D.  Phelps,  C.  B.  Smith,  D.  AV.  Phillips,  A.  Caswell,  N. 
Bishop,  II.  T.  Washburn,  Miss  M.  A.  Collier,  and  others,  appear  on  its  list 
of  writers. 

J\ font Id?/. 

"  The  Macedonian,"  a  monthly  sheet,  devoted  to  Foreign  Missions,  has 
been  published,  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Union, 
twenty-two  years.  It  has  attained  an  extensive  circulation,  and  done  much 
to  diffuse  missionary  intelligence  and  stimulate  the  missionary  spirit. 

"The  Latter  Day  Luminary"  Avas  commenced  in  Philadelphia,  in 
February,  1818,  a  magazine  of  single  column  page,  "five  numbers  a  year, 
profits  sacred  to  the  cause  of  missions,"  edited  by  Dr.  Staughton,  assisted  by 
Burgess  Alison,  II.  G.  Jones,  and  Luther  Rice.  It  was  published  about  three 
years. 

"The  Sabbath-School  Treasury"  was  issued  several  years  by  the 
Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union. 

"  The  Baptist  Mkmorial,"  a  double  column,  8vo.  magazine,  was  com- 
menced in  New  York,  in  184  2,  by  R.  Babcock,  who  edited  it  six  years,  then 
E.  Hutchinson  three  years ;  after  which  it  was  issued  for  a  time  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  then  six  years  in  Philadelphia,  under  the  name  of  "  Thk  Bap- 
tist Family  Magazine."     About  five  thousand  copies  were  issued. 

"  The  Baptist  Preacher,"  a  monthly  pamphlet,  containing  one  or  two 
sermons  in  each  number,  with  short  articles  on  preaching,  was  commenced  in 
Richmond,  Va.,in  1842,  by  H.  Keeling,  and  continued  fifteen  or  twenty  years. 
A  work  of  the  same  character  and  title  was  issued  in  Boston  two  years,  edited 
by  William  Collier. 

"  Thk  Wkstern  Baptist  Review"  was  commenced  in  Louisville,  Ky., 
in  1845,  by  John  L.  Waller,  its  name  afterwards  changed  to  "Christian 
Repository,"  edited  by  S.  II.  Ford,  till  the  Rebellion  drew  its  editor  to  hie 
own  place  among  the  traitors  to  his  country. 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  447 

"  The  Young  Reaper  "  is  a  small  monthly  sheet,  for  Sunday-school  chil- 
dren, issued  nine  years  by  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society. 

"  The  Home  Evangelist  "  is  a  monthly  sheet  issued  by  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Society. 

"  The  Home  and  Foreign  Journal  "  was  published  several  years,  pre- 
vious to  the  Rebellion,  by  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

Several  other  monthlies  have  been  issued,  though  monthlies  have  proved 
to  be  far  less  successful  than  weeklies ;  and  some  monthlies  were  changed  to 
weeklies,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  notice  of  that  class  of  periodicals.  Besides 
these,  "  The  Baptist  Mirror  "  was  issued  by  Davis  Dimock,  semi-monthly, 
at  Montrose,  Pa.,  in  quarto,  in  1825-6-7.  In  1827,  "  The  Literary  and 
Evangelical  Register"  was  issued  at  Milton,  Pa.,  a  few  miles  from  Lew- 
isburg,  by  Eugenio  Kincaid.  "  The  Western  Baptist  Preacher  "  was 
issued  several  years  in  Illinois. 

"  The  Mother's  Journal  "  was  commenced  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1835, 
edited  by  Mrs.  Kingsford,  Mrs.  Conant,  Mrs.  Allen,  and  Mrs.  Clarke,  in  suc- 
cession, till  it  came  into  the  hands  of  its  present  conductors,  Rev.  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Hiscox,  of  New  York  city.  It  has  been  conducted  with  good  taste, 
has  done  much  good,  and  been  liberally  sustained. 

WetEy. 

"  The  Christian  Watchman,"  the  oldest  Baptist  weekly,  was  com- 
menced in  Boston,  in  1819,  True  &  Weston,  publishers.  It  was  edited  many 
years  by  Deacon  James  Loring,  then  three  years  by  E.  Thresher,  and  at 
brief  intervals  by  others.  In  1838  William  Crowell  became  its  editor,  and 
conducted  the  paper  about  ten  years.  United  with  "  The  Christian  Re- 
flector," and  taking  the  name  of  "  The  Christian  Watchman  and 
Reflector,"  J.  W.  Olmstead  became  its  editor.  Among  its  earlier  con- 
tributors were  Messrs.  Anderson,  Sharp,  Keely,  Knowles ;  later,  Stow,  Sears, 
Church,  Hague,  Cutting,  Samson;  later  still,  Lincoln,  Murdock,  Stock- 
bridge,  Hovey,  Arnold,  Ide,  Smith,  Richards.  It  has  been  from  the  first  self- 
sustaining,  vigorous,  and  efficient. 

"  The  Christian  Secretary"  had  its  origin  in  1822, under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Connecticut  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  at  Hartford,  E.  Cushman 
its  first  editor.  It  was  edited  successively  by  P.  Can  field,  G.  Robins,  and  A 
Bolles,  till  in  1838  N.  Burr  became  its  publisher  and  responsible  editor  till 
his  death,  in  1861,  when  E.  Cushman,  son  of  its  first  editor,  assumed  the  edi- 
torial care,  which  he  still  retains.  The  paper  was,  for  a  short  time,  merged  in 
a  New  York  paper,  but  soon  returned  to  its  old  home.  It  has  done  efficient 
service  to  the  cause  of  true  religion  in  Connecticut. 

"  The  Christian  Index"  originated  as  a  quarto  in  Washington  city,  un- 
der the  name  of  "  The  Columbian  Star,"  in  1822,  which  was  edited  by 
several  gentlemen  connected  with  Columbian  College,  as  Rice,  Knowles,  Stow, 
till  1826,  when  it  was  removed  to  Philadelphia,  its  name  changed  to  "The 
Christian  Index,"  AV.  T.  Brantly,  editor.  Some  years  afterwards  it  was  re- 
moved to  Georgia,  and  edited  by  Jesse  Mercer,  till,  at  his  death,  it  became 
the  property  of  the  Georgia  Baptist  Convention,  and  was  edited  by  different 
persons,  being  published  at  Penfield,  Athens,  and  Macon,  at  different  times. 


44S  LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

Several  other  papers,  as  "The  Landmark  Baptist,"  "The  Cham- 
pion," &c.,  have  been  in  existence  in  Georgia  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time. 

"The  Examiner"  is  the  name  of  the  paper  combining  "The  New 
York  Baptist  Register,"  commenced  at  Utica  in  18'23,  so  long  edited 
by  A.  M.  Beebe,  Esq.,  and  "  The  New  York  Recorder,"  formerly  M  Bap- 
tist Advocate,"  edited  first  by  S.  S.  Cutting  and  subsequently  by  M.  B. 
Anderson.  The  union  of  the  "  Register  "  and  "  Reeorder  "  took  place  in 
January,  1855,  and  the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to  "  The  Exam- 
iner," in  June  the  same  year,  Messrs.  Cutting  and  Bright  editors.  In  the 
autumn  of  that  year,  E.  Bright  became  sole  editor,  which  he  continues  to  be 
to  the  present  time.  The  paper  has  received  the  literary  contributions  of 
many  eminent  writers,  has  been  issued  in  a  style  of  great  mechanical  excel- 
lence, and  extended  its  circulation  from  year  to  year,  till  it  has  reached  a 
weekly  issue  of  twenty  thousand. 

"  The  Religious  Herald"  originated  in  a  monthly  pamphlet,  in  Rich- 
mond, Ya.,  October,  1826,  edited  by  H.  Keeling.  At  the  end  of  the  year  it 
was  changed  to  a  weekly,  under  its  present  name,  E.  Ball,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, editor.  Soon  after,  W.  Sands,  from  England,  became  its  editor,  who 
continued  to  conduct  it  many  years.  For  some  years  before  the  Rebellion, 
J.  M.  Shaver  was  its  editor.     It  has  been  ably  conducted  from  the  beginning. 

"  Zion's  Advocate"  was  first  issued  in  Portland,  Me.,  in  1828,  by  A. 
"Wilson,  who  conducted  it  till  1839,  when  J.  Rieker  was  its  editor  till  1842  ; 
then  Mr.  Wilson  resumed  the  charge,  till  1848;  then  S.  K.  Smith,  till  1851  ; 
J.  B.  Foster,  till  1858  ;  W.  H.  Shailer,  till  the  present  time. 

In  1822  "The  Waterville  Intelligencer"  entered  on  a  career  of  a 
few  years,  being  in  part  a  Baptist  paper ;  soon  after,  "  The  Baptist  Her- 
ald," at  Brunswick,  ran  a  brief  career;  and  in  1836  "  The  Eastern 
Watchman  "  was  issued  for  a  time. 

"The  Biblical  Recorder"  originated  in  a  monthly  pamphlet,  edited 
by  Thomas  Meredith,  at  Edenton,  N.  C,  in  1829,  called  "  The  Biblical 
Interpreter,"  which,  after  a  few  years,  was  issued  weekly,  under  its  pres- 
ent name,  and  removed  to  Raleigh.  T.  W.  Tobey  was  for  a  time  its  editor, 
—  perhaps  is  still.  There  have  usually  been,  in  the  State,  two  or  three 
other  papers,  claiming  to  be  Baptist,  of  little  circulation  or  influence. 

"The  Journal  and  Messenger"  unites  "The  Baptist  Weekly 
Journal,"  commenced  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1831,  edited  by  John  Ste- 
vens, "  The  Cross,"  a  Baptist  paper  in  Kentucky,  and  "  The  Messenger," 
of  Indiana.  For  a  time  it  was  called  "  The  Cross,  and  Baptist  Jour- 
nal." In  1838  the  paper  went  into  the  hands  of  George  Cole,  who  re- 
moved it  to  Columbus.  In  1847  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  J.  A.  Batchelder 
and  D.  A.  Randall.  In  1849  Mr.  Batchelder  became  its  sole  proprietor. 
The  paper  received  its  present  name  after  the  union  with  M  The  Messenger," 
and  was  removed  to  Cincinnati.  In  May,  1856,  Mr.  Cole  again  became  ii-  Bole 
editor,  which  he  still  continues  to  be.  Under  his  management  it  has  been 
a  useful  paper. 

"The  WESTERN  RECORDER"  originated  in  a  semi-monthly,  at  Shelbv- 
ville.  Ky.,  in  1833,  afterwards  removed  to  Louisville,  ^.  L.  Waller  editor. 
For  some  years.  "  Tim;  WESTERN  Pioneer,"  of  Illinois,  and  "  The  Bap- 
tist," of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  were  united  with  it,  J.   M.  reck  and  R.  B.  C. 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  449 

Howell  assistant  editors,  under  the  name  of  "  The  Baptist  Banner  and 
Pioneer,"  issued  at  Louisville,  Mr.  Waller,  chief  editor.  In  1851,  it  received 
its  present  name,  under  which  it  was  issued  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Re- 
bellion, when  it  ceased  its  issues ;  but  has  lately  been  revived  again,  in  a 
small  sheet.  Its  influence  has  been  somewhat  mixed,  much  that  was  crude 
and  mischievous  finding  utterance  through  its  columns. 

"  The  Tennessee  Baptist  "  was  commenced  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in 
January,  1835,  by  R.  B.  C.  Howell,  who  was  its  editor  thirteen  years,  when 
he  placed  it  under  the  care  of  the  General  Baptist  Association  of  the  State, 
after  which  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  J.  R.  Graves,  from  Vermont.  It  was  a 
most  mischievous  and  pestilent  sheet  under  his  management,  obtained  a  wide 
circulation,  became  a  violently  partisan,  personal,  and  abusive  paper,  and  ex- 
ceeded the  secular  prints  in  its  advocacy  of  Secession,  till,  on  the  capture  of 
Nashville,  its  guilty  editor  fled  to  the  South,  and  its  issues  ceased.  Several 
other  Baptist  weeklies  have  been  issued  from  Knoxville,  Nashville,  and 
Memphis,  for  several  years  each,  all  of  which  have  ceased. 

"  The  Western  Watchman"  was  commenced  in  St.  Louis,  in  1838,  J. 
M.  Peck  editor.  From  1851  it  was  conducted  about  ten  years  by  William 
Crowell,  till,  at  the  coming  on  of  the  troubles  connected  with  the  Rebellion, 
its  issues  ceased.  A  paper  called  "  The  Missouri  Baptist  "  had  previously 
been  issued  for  a  time  by  J.  T.  Hinton.  Two  or  three  other  papers,  claiming 
to  be  Baptist,  have  had  a  temporary  existence  in  Missouri. 

"The  Southern  Baptist"  originated  in  a  monthly,  at  Greenville,  S.  C, 
in  1840,  T.  W.  Haynes  editor.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  it  was  removed 
to  Charleston,  where  it  had  several  editors  in  succession,  till  it  was  discontin- 
ued three  or  four  years  ago. 

"  The  Michigan  Christian  Herald  "  was  commenced  in  Detroit,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1842,  by  the  Michigan  Baptist  State  Convention.  A.  Tenbrook 
was  its  first  editor ;  it  was  then  edited  by  M.  Sanford,  J.  Inglis,  and  others. 
For  about  fourteen  years  previous  to  1862  it  was  edited  by  G.  W.  Harris,  and 
published  by  M.  Allen,  under  a  lease  from  the  Convention.  In  January, 
1862,  E.  Olney  and  E.  Curtiss  became  proprietors,  the  latter  chief  editor.  In 
April,  W.  Alden  and  others  became  editors  and  proprietors.  It  has  received 
the  literary  contributions  of  the  pastors  in  the  State,  its  circulation,  never 
large,  being  almost  exclusively  in  that  State.  To  its  wholesome  influence 
the  Baptists  of  Michigan  are  largely  indebted  for  the  remarkable  harmony 
in  doctrine  and  practice  which  they  have  enjoyed  above  any  other  Western 
State.  The  recent  liberality  in  the  endowment  of  three  institutions  of  learn- 
ing is,  in  a  great  degree,  owing  to  the  excellent  influence  of  this  paper. 

"  The  Alabama  Baptist  "  was  commenced  at  Marion,  Ala.,  January, 
1843,  M.  P.  Jewett  editor.  Its  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  "  South- 
western Baptist,"  J.  C.  Henderson  editor.  Another  weekly  paper  was 
published  a  year  or  two  in  Alabama. 

"The  Chronicle"  is  the  union  of  "  The  Christian  Chronicle," 
commenced  in  Philadelphia,  in  1846,  G.  W.  Anderson  editor,  afterwards 
edited  by  W.  B.  Jacobs  many  years,  then  by  J.  S.  Dickerson,  assisted  by 
J.  N.  Brown,  several  years,  with  "  The  New  York  Chronicle,"  com- 
menced in  1850,  in  New  York,  O.  B.  Judd  editor,  till,  in  1857,  P.  Church 
became  its  editor,  which  he  continued  to  be  till  its  union  with  "  The  Chris- 
57 


450  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

tian  Chronicle,"  under  its  present  name,  near  the  close  of  1863.  The  paper 
has  attained  a  high  character,  a  wide  circulation,  and  extensive  usefulness, 
since  it  came  under  its  present  management. 

The  first  weekly  Baptist  paper  in  Philadelphia  was  "The  World,"  in 
1832.  "The  Religious  Narrator"  had  a  short  existence,  edited  by 
W.  T.  Brantly,  and  was  united  with  "  The  World,"  the  united  paper  taking 
the  name  of  "  The  Christian  Gazette,"  under  the  editorship  of  R.  W. 
Cuslmian. 

"  The  True  Union  "  was  commenced  as  a  weekly  paper  in  Baltimore,  in 
January,  1850.  For  fifteen  months  it  was  edited  by  the  proprietor,  Thomas 
J.  Beach,  Esq.  From  April,  1851,  to  the  end  of  1852,  it  was  edited  nomi- 
nally by  "  the  Baptist  pastors  of  Baltimore,"  but  really  by  F.  Wilson.  In 
1853,  Mr.  Wilson's  name  appeared  as  editor,  which  he  continued  to  be  till  the 
close  of  1856.  In  1857  it  was  edited  by  G.  F.  Adams  ;  from  the  end  of  that 
year  to  1860,  by  John  Bang.  In  1861  Mr.  Wilson  again  became  its  editor, 
till  the  close  of  that  year,  when  he  determined  to  discontinue  its  publication. 
During  its  existence  of  twelve  years,  it  seldom  had  a  circulation  of  over  fifteen 
hundred.  It  was  edited  gratuitously  during  eight  of  these  years,  yet  its 
expenses  amounted  to  $3500  above  all  its  receipts.  Its  principal  contributors 
were  R.  Fuller,  G.  F.  Adams,  J.  M.  W.  Williams,  George  B.  Taylor,  G.  W. 
Samson,  S.  C.  Barton. 

"  The  Christian  Era"  was  commenced  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  June,  1852, 
J.  M.  Burt  editor.  In  1856  A.  Webster  purchased  the  paper,  removed  it 
to  Boston,  and  became  its  editor,  which  he  still  continues  to  be. 

"  The  Christian  Times  "  was  commenced  in  Chicago,  111.,  in  1863,  J.  A. 
Smith  and  Leroy  Church  editors.  "  The  Northwestern  Baptist  "  was 
commenced  in  Chicago,  in  1842,  continuing  two  years;  "The  Western 
Star,"  at  Jacksonville,  in  1845,  two  years;  "  The  Western  Christian,"  at 
Elgin,  from  1845  to  1860;  "The  Watchman  of  the  Prairies,"  at  Chi- 
cago, from  1847  to  1852.  "The  Illinois  Baptist"  was  issued  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State  a  few  years.  "  The  Western  Pioneer,"  com- 
menced by  J.  M.  Peck,  which  was  much  earlier,  was  noticed  under  the  head 
of  "  The  Western  Recorder." 

"  The  Witness  "  was  first  issued  by  S.  Dyer,  in  1856,  at  Indianapolis, 
Ind.  M.  G.  Clarke  soon  became  its  editor,  till,  in  1863,  M.  E.  W.  Clarke  as- 
sumed its  charge,  which  he  still  continues.  One  or  two  papers  had  a  previous 
brief  existence  in  the  State. 

"  The  American  Baptist  "  was  started  by  the  friends  of  Free  Missions, 
and  has  been  published  several  years  in  the  city  of  New  York.  It  is  now 
ably  edited  by  N.  Brown,  formerly  Missionary  to  Assam. 

Some  other  weekly  papers  have  had  an  existence  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
time,  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  "  The  New  Hampshire  Baptist 
Register"  was  issued  at  Concord  many  years,  by  Edmund  Worth.  "The 
Vermont  Observer"  was  issued  many  years,  a  blight  on  the  Baptist 
cause  in  that  State.  "  The  Southwestern  Chronicle,"  at  New  Or- 
leans, La.,  "  The  Mississippi  Baptist,"  "  The  Texas  Baptist,"  "  The 
Arkansas  Baptist,"  were  issued  some  years,  chiefly  echoes  of  the  "  Ten- 
nessee Baptist."  In  the  State  of  Virginia,  several  weeklies,  claiming  to  be 
Baptist,  have  been  issued  for  a  time.    One  or  two  papers  have  been  published 


LITERATURE   OF   AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  45 1 

at  San  Francisco,  CaL,  for  a  time,  and  "  The  Evangel  "  is  still  issued. 
There  are  two  or  three  German  Baptist  papers  issued  in  the  United  States, 
and  one  Swedish.  A  paper  in  French,  by  N.  Cyr,  in  Canada,  circulates  in 
this  country. 

The  weekly  press  has  proved  itself  an  agency  of  wonderful  efficiency  in 
promoting  unity  of  doctrine,  practice,  and  feeling  among  us.  It  has  done 
very  much  to  make  our  principles  known,  to  remove  prejudices,  disarm  op- 
position, and  secure  the  respect  of  the  public.  It  is  peculiarly  an  arm  of 
strength  to  Baptists,  in  their  advocacy  of  pure  Christianity.  No  portion  of 
our  literature  has  more  elements  of  popular  efficiency,  none  seems  likely  to 
be  more  effective  in  the  future. 

A  weekly  religious  newspaper  is  one  of  the  modern  wonders  of  the  world. 
It  is  a  universal  cyclopaedia  of  things  sacred  and  secular,  new  and  old,  grave 
and  gay,  in  poetry  and  prose  ;  it  treats  of  religion,  literature,  science,  morals, 
of  the  concerns  of  state,  of  discoveries,  improvements,  inventions,  of  the  arts, 
of  patents,  of  disasters,  victories,  and  defeats.  Here  it  tells  that  the  sources 
of  the  Nile  have  been  discovered,  there  of  an  improved  sewing  machine. 
Here  is  a  critique  on  Sir  William  Hamilton's  Metaphysics,  there  a  remedy 
for  baldness.  In  this  column  you  are  treated  to  a  grand  description  of  the 
starry  heavens,  in  that  to  a  remedy  for  dyspepsia.  Here  is  a  learned  critique 
on  Tischendorf 's  manuscript,  there  a  cure  for  corns  and  bunions.  What  a 
perfect  history  of  our  social,  religious,  civil,  and  ecclesiastical  life  is  stamped 
on  the  pages  of  these  weekly  journals  ! 

Our  publishing-  enterprises,  to  which  we  are  indebted  for 
much  of  the  success  of  our  literature,  deserve  honorable 
mention.  The  earliest  Baptist  publishing  house  in  the  Unit- 
ed States  was  that  of  Lincoln  &  Edmands.  Mr.  Ensign 
Lincoln,  a  native  of  Hingham,  Mass.,  formed  a  partnership 
in  1806  with  Thomas  Edmands.  At  the  death  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  in  1832,  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  on  the 
17th  of  January,  1835,  the  concern  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln.  In  November,  1850,  Mr. 
Kendall  retired,  and  the  firm  became  that  of  Gould  &  Lin- 
coln. 

Mr.  Lincoln  set  up  for  himself  as  a  printer,  in  Boston,  in  1800,  the  first 
book  he  printed  being  a  complete  edition  of  Cowper's  Poems.  He  also 
printed  Johnson's  Dictionary  Abridged,  in  pearl  type.  He  was  a  man  of  God, 
without  reproach,  -  the  model  of  a  Christian  man  of  business,  a  licensed 
preacher,  abundant  in  labors,  of  whom  Mr.  Buckingham,  a  journeyman 
printer  with  him  in  the  same  office,  says,  that  "  if  all  church  members  were 
as  conscientiously  true  to  their  professions  as  he  was,  the  millennial  year 
would  be  rapidly  approaching."  His  labors  and  influence  were  of  inestimable 
value  to  our  denominational  literature.  The  present  firm,  composed  of  his 
son  and  son-in-law,  have  well  carried  on  the  work  so  nobly  begun.     The  cat- 


452  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

alogue  of  their  publications  is  their  highest  praise.  This  firm  has  ■won  a  very 
high  position  in  the  annals  of  liberal,  useful,  and  sound  literature. 

Of  the  works  issued  by  Gould  &  Lincoln,  Wayland's  "  Moral  Science  "  has 
reached  a  sale  of  135,000  copies ;  Malcom's  "Bible  Dictionary,"  140,000  ; 
Hugh  Miller's  Works,  116,000,  (of  which  "  Testimony  of  the  Rocks  " 
28,000)  ;  "  Memoir  of  Ann  H.  Judson,"  66,000  ;  "  Annual  of  Scientific 
Discovery,"  52,000  ;  "  Aimwell  Stories,"  92,000;  "  Agassiz  and  Gould's  Zool- 
ogy," 40,000. 

The  firm  of  Manning  &  Loring,  of  Boston,  has  also  done  worthy  service 
to  the  same  cause,  but  no  means  are  at  hand  of  giving  their  publications  in 
detail. 

In  New  York,  the  house  of  L.  Colby  &  Co.,  succeeded  by  that  of  Sheldon 
&  Co.,  have  done  and  are  doing  a  good  work.  The  Publication  Society,  lo- 
cated in  Philadelphia,  have  given  a  strong  impulse,  especially  to  the  dissemi- 
nation of  our  devotional,  tract,  and  Sunday-school  literature.  Publishers  and 
booksellers  are  as  needful  as  authors.  We  must  not  only  make  our  own 
books,  —  we  must  put  them  in  circulation.  A  Christian  publisher  of  high 
moral  and  religious  aims,  uniting  superior  gentlemanly  and  business  qualifica- 
tions to  an  ardent  love  of  truth,  may  attain  a  position  of  usefulness,  second, 
perhaps,  to  no  other  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

Of  the  works  issued  by  Sheldon  &  Co.,  "  Olshausen's  Commentary,"  trans- 
lated by  Kendrick,  has  reached  a  sale  of  80,000  copies ;  "  Grace  Truman," 
40,000  ;  Benedict's  "  History  of  the  Baptists,"  25,000 ;  "  Baptist  Library," 
8,000;  Kendrick's  "Life  of  Emily  C.  Judson,"  12,000;  Phelps's  "Holy 
Land,"  4,000. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Baptists  have  contributed  more  or 
less  to  every  department  of  English  and  American  literature. 
They  have  been  the  fast  friends  of  good  and  liberal  learning ; 
they  have  been  foremost  in  the  cause  of  popular  education  ; 
they  have  contributed  to  the  elegant  and  ornamental,  in  liter- 
ature and  the  arts,  as  well  as  to  the  substantial ;  they  have 
given  the  aid  of  their  pens  to  all  that  elevates,  ennobles,  lib- 
eralizes, adorns,  and  sanctifies  human  nature. 

For  the  purposes  of  a  comparative  estimate  of  the  litera- 
ture of  American  Baptists,  it  may  be  grouped  in  three  gen- 
eral divisions  :  First,  that  which  relates  to  the  spiritual  con- 
cerns of  mankind,  their  duties  to  God  and  to  each  other, 
their  common  accountability  and  immortal  welfare,  as  travel- 
lers to  the  judgment-seat  and  the  endless  eternity  beyond  ; 
Second,  that  which  relates  to  the  civil,  the  social,  the  political 
concerns  of  men,  and  the  rights,  the  liberties,  the  interests, 
the  duties,  the  progress  of  the  human  race,  as  related  to  law, 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  453 

to  magistracy,  and  to  civil  government ;  Third,  that  litera- 
ture which  relates  to  the  enlarging  of  the  boundaries  of  hu- 
man knowledge,  the  progress  of  the  human  intellect  in  science 
and  the  arts  of  life,  to  the  instruction  of  the  young,  the  nour- 
ishing and  discipline  of  the  mind,  the  cultivation  of  the  taste, 
the  improvement  of  the  heart,  the  purifying  of  social  inter- 
course, and  the  general  progress  of  the  moral  and  social  vir- 
tues among  men. 

The  characteristic  of  the  first  division  is  that  it  is  preem- 
inently Scriptural,  —  that  is,  its  premises,  its  assumptions, 
its  ultimate  authority,  its  tone  and  spirit,  are  shaped  to  the 
great  idea  that  God  has  spoken  to  men,  not  only  in  the 
works  of  creation  and  providence,  but  in  a  far  more  sacred 
and  authoritative  voice,  by  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  Apostles, 
and,  above  all,  "  by  His  Son,  whom  He  hath  appointed  heir 
of  all  things,  by  whom  also  He  made  the  worlds."  The  Di- 
vine inspiration,  the  supreme  authority,  the  surpassing  excel- 
lence, the  perfect  sufficiency  of  the  Scriptures  for  everything 
pertaining  to  man's  redemption,  to  the  knowledge  of  duty, 
and  to  the  visible  kingdom  of  God,  constitute  its  cardinal 
principle.  Its  motto  is,  "  If  we  receive  the  witness  of  men, 
the  witness  of  God  is  greater :  for  this  is  the  witness  of  God 
which  He  hath  testified  of  His  Son." 

The  theology  that  pervades  this  literature  is  of  the  Atha- 
nasian,  Augustinian,  Calvinian  type,  though  neither  derived 
from  nor  much  influenced  by  men  or  schools.  Baptists  al- 
low no  creed  to  stand  between  them  and  the  Scriptures.  No 
articles  of  man's  framing,  as  to  doctrine  or  discipline,  were 
ever  made  the  tests  of  good  standing  among  them,  in  the 
church  or  the  ministry.  The  Bible,  the  Bible  alone,  the  Bi- 
ble direct,  in  its  most  obvious  meaning,  has  ever  been  the 
one  only  authoritative  standard.  Each  church  draws  up 
articles  setting  forth  its  tenets  for  the  information  of  the 
public,  or  for  convenient  reference,  or  adopts  those  of  an- 
other church,  or  none  at  all,  according  to  its  pleasure  ;  yet 
the  doctrinal  unity  of  our  literature,  in  the  absence  of  all 


454  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

ecclesiastical  or  sectarian  barriers,  is  as  nearly  perfect  as  pos- 
sible. 

Equally  uniform  is  its  teaching  respecting  the  Church, — its 
nature,  design,  constituent  elements,  polity,  and  government. 
Conversion,  as  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  producing  repentance, 
faith,  and  love,  is  the  indispensable  qualification  of  admission 
to  its  fellowship.  No  Baptist  author  ever  advocated  the  re- 
ception of  unregenerate  persons,  whether  infants  or  adults. 
All  maintain  that  the  Church  is  a  spiritual  affiliation  for 
spiritual  ends.  Its  design  is  ever  declared  to  be  the  progres- 
sive holiness  of  its  members  and  the  conversion  of  the  world. 

As  baptism  is  the  visible  form  of  admission  to  the  Church, 
as  well  as  of  professing  Christ,  it  is  uniformly  represented  as 
following  conversion,  and  preceding  church  fellowship  and 
communion ;  indeed,  there  is  no  exception  to  this  remark, 
worthy  of  note,  in  American  Baptist  literature.  Robert  Hall, 
in  England,  though  holding  the  burial  of  believers  in  water 
as  the  only  baptism,  yet  advocated  the  displacement  of  the 
two  ordinances  so  far  as  to  admit  unbaptized  persons  to  the 
Lord's  table.  His  theory  has  made  no  progress  in  this  coun- 
try. All,  of  course,  agree  that  the  members  of  a  church 
only  have  the  right  to  it's  communion.  The  unseemly  clamor 
that  has  been  made  by  those  that  claim  their  entire  sect  as 
belonging  to  their  "  church,"  has  induced  a  few  ill-instructed 
Baptists  to  seek  a  theory  by  which  Baptist  communion  tables 
also  may  be  thrown  open  to  all  who  see  fit  to  come  to  them. 
The  point  affects  not  the  members  of  the  church,  but  only 
sojourners.  The  question  is  simply  whether  persons  believed 
to  be  pious,  yet  held  to  be  unbaptized  by  the  church,  may 
not  be  invited  by  courtesy  to  the  Lord's  table.  Even  on  this 
point,  the  concurrent  voice  of  Baptist  literature  for  restrict- 
ing invitations  to  the  Lord's  table  —  if  any  church  deems  it 
necessary  to  extend  them  —  to  members  of  churches  of  the 
same  faith  and  order,  is  more  nearly  a  unit  than  that  of  any 
of  the  surrounding  sects  on  points  of  vital  importance  to 
their  integrity. 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  455 

The  independence  of  each  church  is  uniformly  maintained 
through  the  whole  current  of  Baptist  literature.  The  ten- 
dencies are  to  carry  this  principle  to  its  extremest  limits. 
And  although  nearly  all  the  churches  unite  in  associations  for 
mutual  sympathy,  cooperation,  and  the  collection  of  statistics, 
yet  there  is  a  watchful  jealousy  of  any  interference  with 
the  churches,  even  by  the  expression  of  opinion. 

The  official  equality  of  ministers,  the  right  of  each  church 
to  admit  and  expel  members,  to  call  offenders  to  trial,  to  con- 
stitute tribunals  for  the  trial  of  ministers  by  inviting  other 
churches  and  their  ministers,  and  to  provide  for  the  support 
of  worship,  follow  so  obviously  from  the  preceding  principles, 
that  the  testimony  of  our  literature  in  reference  to  them  is 
entirely  concurrent. 

The  characteristics  of  the  second  department  of  our  liter- 
ature are  not  less  distinct  or  striking.  It  has  never  advo- 
cated, but  uniformly  opposed,  the  union  of  Church  and  State, 
the  support  of  clergy  by  the  State,  every  form  of  legal  com- 
pulsion for  the  support  of  religious  worship,  and  all  persecu- 
tion for  religious  opinion.  The  contrast,  in  this  respect,  with 
other  religious  literature  is  most  remarkable.  Can  it  be  said 
that  the  literature  of  any  of  the  sects  that  practise  infant 
baptism,  excepting  those  that  have  sprung  up  under  the  light 
of  American  freedom,  is  free  from  the  taint  of  a  persecuting 
spirit  \  Not  only  those  aggregated  sects,  each  claiming  to 
be  a  church,  —  territorial  or  diocesan,  —  as  the  Romish,  the 
Lutheran,  the  Episcopal,  and  the  Presbyterian,  but  even  the 
Congregational  or  Independent  denominations  of  New  Eng- 
land, —  have  they  not  all  manifested  the  same  spirit  of 
persecution  for  conscience'  sake]  Even  to  this  day,  their 
literature  is  not  purged  of  this  foul  spirit ;  while  Baptist 
literature  in  all  ages,  in  all  countries,  has  been  free  from  such 
a  taint. 

Yet  Baptist  literature  has  dealt  largely,  very  largely,  with 
current  political  matters,  even  to  the  extent  of  incurring  great 
reproach  therefor.     The  Baptists  of  the  American  colonies 


4<56  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

were  held  up  as  malcontents,  aiming  at  the  subversion  of 
civil  order,  political  brawlers,  turning  the  world  upside  down 
with  their  theories  of  unbridled  liberty.  Had  they  aimed  at 
special  political  rewards,  their  literature  would  furnish  proof 
of  the  fact.  Can  it  be  found  ]  In  shaping  the  national 
policy  under  the  old  Congress,  in  the  formation  of  the  Na- 
tional and  State  constitutions,  the  Baptists  were  the  most 
active,  outspoken,  and  earnest  of  all ;  and  their  record,  with 
its  glorious  results,  is  known  and  read  of  all  men. 

The  fact  that  the  Baptists  were  oppressed  and  afflicted, 
seeking  toleration,  availing  themselves  of  the  popular  sym- 
pathy, as  a  persecuted  people,  will  not  account  for  this  fact. 
The  Lutherans,  the  Episcopalians,  the  Presbyterians,  the  Con- 
gregationalists,  in  turn,  have  all  been  persecuted  ;  yet  they 
have  each  become  persecutors,  when  opportunity  offered.  The 
reason  must  be  found  in  the  nature  of  Baptist  principles 
themselves,  out  of  which  this  literature  has  grown.  It  is  be- 
cause that  literature  has  drawn  its  life  directly  from  the  pure 
fountain  of  God's  Word,  not  from  the  mingled,  turgid,  be- 
fouled streams  of  sectarian  ambition,  political  strife,  and 
worldly  dependence,  that  it  has  kept  free  from  this  relic  of 
heathenism. 

And  more  than  this,  principles  of  civil  freedom  advocated 
by  Baptists  amid  the  fires  of  persecution,  principles  then  de- 
nounced as  subversive  of  all  government,  of  all  true  civil 
and  social  order,  are  now  received  as  admitted  maxims  of 
republican  or  democratic  liberty  and  law.  The  natural  equal- 
ity of  all  men  before  the  law,  as  before  God ;  the  right  to 
self-government  through  constitutions,  laws,  and  magistrates, 
ordained  by  a  majority  of  the  people,  —  that  government  ex- 
isting by  the  will  of  God  and  for  the  good  of  the  governed  ; 
the  right  of  every  one  to  the  blessings  of  liberty  and  knowl- 
edge, are  ideas  inherent  in  Baptist  principles  as  set  forth  in 
their  literature. 

The  benign  influence  of  these  principles  on  the  enslaved 
Africans  in  America  is  also  seen.     The  nature  of  our  church 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  457 

government  rendered  it  impossible  that  any  ecclesiastical  rule 
forbidding  slaveholding,  such  as  the  Methodists,  the  Quakers, 
and  some  Presbyterians  have  enacted  only  to  be  broken, 
should  be  adopted.  The  subject  was  therefore  left  to  the 
several  churches,  and  to  the  individual  conscience  of  each 
member.  Great  numbers  of  slaves  have  been  gathered  into 
independent  Baptist  churches,  governed  by  their  own  appli- 
cation of  the  law  of  Christ.  Many  Baptists  have  been  mas- 
ters of  slaves,  yet  few  have  defended  slavery  as  right ;  while 
the  great  majority  of  them  have  opposed  it,  or  submitted  to 
it  as  an  evil,  to  be  borne  till  a  change  could  be  made. 

The  literature  belonging  to  the  third  division  is  character- 
ized by  strength,  purity,  and  moral  earnestness.  Whether 
scientific,  classical,  or  general  literature,  it  has  always  a  high 
aim.  Very  little  of  it  is  designed  merely  to  instruct  the 
intellect ;  less  still  merely  to  please ;  none  to  influence  the 
passions  at  the  expense  of  good  morals.  If  the  cross  of 
Christ  and  the  salvation  of  the  soul  be  not  the  direct  aim  in 
this  portion  of  Baptist  literature,  the  aim  is  always  subser- 
vient to  these  ends.  Nothing  corrupt  in  doctrine,  or  of  im- 
moral tendency,  is  found  in  it. 

A  large  amount  of  literature  of  this  class  has  been  pro- 
duced by  authors  who,  though  they  received  their  early  nur- 
ture in  Baptist  families,  and  listened  to  the  truth  from  Baptist 
pulpits,  have  not  united  themselves  to  our  churches.  Though 
this  is  not  reckoned  as  a  part  of  our  literature,  it  has  grown 
out  of  the  influence  of  Baptist  principles  and  institutions. 
Its  vigorous,  liberal,  stimulating  spirit  has  been  widely  influ- 
ential in  the  political  and  social  life  of  the  United  States. 

On  a  comparison  of  our  literature  with  that  which  has 
sprung  from  the  State  religious  establishments  of  Europe 
and  the  church  sects  of  the  United  States,  some  disparities 
will  be  observed.  Baptists  have  produced  no  long,  minute, 
disputative  creeds,  or  confessions  of  faith,  like  those  of  the 
Protestant  sects,  —  affirming,  denying,  and  defining  what  men 
must  believe,  as  if  belief  of  dogmatic  doctrine  could  save  the 

58 


458  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS. 

soul,  or  preserve  the  true  faith  in  the  world.  They  have  pro- 
duced few  elaborate  treatises  on  scientific,  scholastic,  and 
metaphysical  theology,  though  they  have  made  valuable  con- 
tributions to  theological  science.  Nor  have  they  produced 
works  of  extensive  research  in  the  so-called  department  of 
ecclesiastical  history.  The  reason  is,  we  have  little  need  or 
use  for  such  works,  though  a  true  history  of  primitive  Chris- 
tianity, from  the  close  of  Luke's  history,  in  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  is  greatly  to  be  desired.  As  the  residuum  of  the 
conflicts  of  truth  with  error  through  the  centuries  past,  with 
here  and  there  a  gem  worth  preserving,  they  are  valuable  to 
us.  We  admire  the  learning,  the  ability,  the  patient  toil 
shown  in  these  mighty  tomes,  as  we  admire  a  vast  ancient 
ruin  ;  though,  for  the  purposes  of  man's  redemption  from 
sin  to  God,  they  are  scarcely  more  useful  than  would  be  the 
Pyramids  for  modern  dwellings.  From  these  monuments 
of  learning,  built  by  State-paid,  creed-bound  theologians,  in 
the  interest  of  systems  largely  mingled  with  error,  we  may 
take  here  and  there  a  fragment,  as  the  stones  of  the  Pyra- 
mids are  carried  off  to  build  useful  structures.  What  end 
have  those  long-drawn  creeds  yet  served,  but  to  distract  and 
divide  those  who  use  them  ]  To  what  better  purpose  can  we 
put  the  most  learned,  candid,  and  truthful  works  of  ecclesias- 
tical history,  than  by  digging  among  the  rubbish  to  exhume 
the  beautiful  form  of  primitive  Christianity  ?  What  por- 
tions so  useful  as  their  confessions  and  retractions  % 

It  is  in  the  departments  of  Biblical  exegesis,  of  practical 
religion,  of  useful  knowledge,  of  missionary  biography  and 
history,  that  our  literature  is  richest.  Our  polemic  literature 
is  small  in  compass,  but  very  effective.  Ours  is  emphatically 
a  livings  literature ;  for  our  church  principles,  our  doctrines, 
polity,  and  government  never  change ;  they  are  the  same 
from  age  to  age  ;  only  our  manner  of  teaching  them  and  of 
refuting  opponents  changes. 

Very  different  is  it  with  the  sects  around  us,  who  add  to 
and  take  from  the  teachings  of  the  Scriptures.    Compare  the 


LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  459 

literature  of  the  various  Pedo-Baptist  bodies  in  the  United 
States,  for  the  last  fifty  years,  with  that  of  their  parent  sects, 
the  State  churches  of  Europe,  or  with  their  own  earlier  teach- 
ings in  this  country,  and  note  their  widening  divergence  from 
their  former  grounds,  on  such  points  as  the  toleration  of  all 
religious  opinions,  liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  the 
support  of  religion  by  the  State,  the  right  of  private  judg- 
ment, unlimited  freedom  of  worship,  infant  church  member- 
ship, the  obligations  of  infant  baptism,  baptismal  regenera- 
tion, grace  through  the  sacraments,  the  value  and  necessity 
of  being  born  of  the  Spirit,  for  proofs  of  the  rapid  strides 
which  they  have  made  towards  us,  while  our  position  remains 
unchanged. 

In  thus  tracing  the  directions  in  which  our  recorded 
thoughts  have  been  flowing,  the  influence  of  our  foreign 
missionary  enterprise  on  our  literature  is  very  manifest. 
That  literature  could  not  have  been  what  it  is,  without  our 
Foreign  Missions.  Their  reflex  influence  on  all  branches  of 
our  religious  and  educational  movement,  has  been  traced  by 
other  hands.  That  the  missionary  spirit  has  powerfully 
stimulated  our  literary  activity,  while  our  missionary  labors 
have  thrown  much  light  on  the  history  of  the  early  conflicts 
of  Christianity  with  heathenism,  and  even  on  the  meaning 
of  some  passages  in  the  Scriptures,  cannot  be  doubted. 

On  the  whole,  while  Baptists  have  done  nothing  to  boast 
of,  this  survey  of  our  literature  shows,  that,  in  the  depart- 
ment of  letters,  where  they  might  be  supposed  to  be  specially 
deficient,  they  have  no  cause  to  be  ashamed.  The  wonder  is, 
that  they  have  done  so  much  and  so  well,  while  emerging 
from  the  furnace  of  persecution  and  the  brick-kiln  of  op- 
pression into  the  pure  light  and  the  bracing  air  of  American 
liberty.  The  value  of  literature  is  not  in  proportion  to  its 
quantity,  but  in  its  power  for  good.  What  we  have  done 
is  valuable  as  the  first-fruits,  the  earnest  of  the  coming 
harvest. 

Enough  has  been  done  to  show  how  favorable  are  Baptist 


460  LITERATURE   OF  AMERICAN   BAPTISTS. 

ideas  to  literary  culture  and  intellectual  activity.  He  must 
be  a  bold  reviler  of  truth,  or  a  very  stupid  bigot,  who  will 
now  reproach  Baptists  as  an  illiterate  people,  or  affirm,  in 
view  of  our  literary  progress  thus  far,  that  our  principles  or 
practices  are  unfavorable  to  the  cause  of  sound  learning,  or 
to  the  graces  of  literary  excellence.  Our  freedom  from 
ecclesiastical  trammels  manifests  itself  in  our  literature,  as 
well  as  in  our  popular  growth.  We  do  not  greatly  recruit 
our  ranks  from  the  rich,  the  cultivated,  or  the  refined ;  and 
intellectual  and  literary  culture  among  us  is  the  fruit  of  in- 
fluences that  grow  out  of  the  truths  which  we  hold. 

Yet  the  doctrinal  unity  of  our  literature  is  a  power  for 
the  suppression  of  error  greater  than  all  creeds  and  canons 
and  standards,  with  all  their  ecclesiastical  machinery  to  set 
them  in  motion.  "  The  locusts  have  no  king,  yet  go  they 
forth  all  of  them  by  bands  ;  "  so,  without  Pope,  or  Bishop, 
or  Presbytery,  or  governing  Conference,  or  any  power  above 
the  churches  but  their  common  Head,  we  are  one  people,  in 
all  that  is  essential  to  harmony  of  thought  and  action,  more 
nearly  than  any  other  Christian  denomination  of  equal  extent 
in  the  land ;  nor  can  any  other,  with  the  use  of  all  its  creeds, 
its  standards,  its  canon  laws,  and  ecclesiastical  appliances,  so 
surely,  so  speedily,  or  with  so  little  hurt  to  the  people  of  God, 
put  down  dangerous  heresy,  when  it  issues  from  the  press, 
as  can  the  Baptists  of  these  United  States. 

In  concluding  this  brief  and  very  imperfect  survey  of  our 
half-century  literature,  the  conviction  must  force  itself  upon 
our  minds,  that  we  have  only  begun  to  comprehend  the 
power  of  the  pen  and  the  press  to  refute  error,  to  promote 
correct  thinking,  to  stimulate  intellectual  activity,  to  preoc- 
cupy the  minds  of  the  young,  and  to  extend  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom.  It  is  fit  that  we  here  and  now  erect  an  enduring 
monument,  as  a  way-mark  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us. 
Let  the  work  go  on ;  let  us,  let  our  sons  who  come  after  us, 
highly  appreciate  and  liberally  encourage  the  labors  of  the 
pen.      Let  a  beautiful  column  rise  aloft,  worthy  the  broad 


LITERATURE  OF  AMERICAN  BAPTISTS.  461 

and  firm  foundation  laid  by  our  English  fathers ;  worthy  the 
noble  martyrs  of  soul  liberty  on  American  soil ;  worthy  the 
perfect  freedom  and  the  abundant  blessings  which  are  our 
happy  birthright.  And  may  the  pen  that  shall  write  up  our 
literary  history  of  the  next  half-century  have  a  still  better 
account  to  give  of  the  literary  achievements  of  the  sons  who 
will  rise  up  to  take  the  place  of  the  fathers. 


